Shock to the System

CSB safety video detailing key lessons for preventing hydraulic shock in ammonia refrigeration systems based on the CSB's investigation into the accident at Millard Refrigerated Services Inc. on August 23, 2010. 32,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia were released to the atmosphere, resulting in over thirty offsite workers being hospitalized – four in an intensive care unit.

[hwwwarrior]

...I've learned so much about industrial accidents over the last couple days...I can't stop bingeing these and i dont quite know why

[GeneralChangFromDanang]

These videos make me think back on my teenage years in contract security. At any site you were assigned to, there was NEVER training. I was once assigned to a cheese factory to watch it on the weekends. I've seen the ammonia tanks and cooling system outside and never thought anything of it. There was no training on what to do during an ammonia leak, or even a mention that it was a dangerous event. On top of that, the guard on the shift before me would never tell me anything. I came in on a Sunday night and he left like normal, then I luckily got a call from maintenance that there had in fact been a small ammonia leak in the plant and that I should not start my rounds for another 4 hours. Yeah, that guy was useless.

[ADOTlied]

If only Congress was as thoroughly competent as this part of the government.

[magustx]

wow the animation of the guy typing on keyboard was fantastic

[drowsy_mouse]

I'm sorry but I laughed my ass off when he said at 3:45 that they were cleaning up the deep water horizon right next to this accident

[En.GergerRacc]

"What is this, a crossover episode?"
*Laugh Track*

[docmemory]

Very well made, very clear, thanks.

On the need for passwords for manual overrides, I can't help but think of the several other CSB videos that say something like "operators had been given the password", "the supervisor entered the password", etc.  If you don't have a hardwired interlock (like a temperature or pressure sensor on the coils interlocked to the valves) some fool will blow it up.  Yes, you can bypass the hardwired interlocks, but with much more effort -- hopefully more effort than simply fixing the problem.  Passwords are too easy.

[Ryarios]

This shows a good example of a poor control scheme. The system should be able to detect the hot condition and refuse to apply the low temperature fluid. A common problem is insufficient I/O, sensors and control elements to properly function through abnormal events.

[StudioAREshorts]

>Avoid interrupting defrost cycles

Seems more like "NEVER EVER"

[theLuigiFanProductions]

I understand the person resetting all the controllers made a horrible mistake, but this problem would not have happened if the software wasn't flawed. The firmware on the controllers should NOT have allowed resetting any refrigeration system that was running a defrost, or at the bare minimum warned that 1 or more units were defrosting and would be reset after they finished. Secondarily, it should require more then one person to forcibly override anything, perhaps two or three keycards (wireless or mag stripe, the override MUST be stored in physical form). Third, the controllers should be designed to drain all the pipes, when switched on before powering on the refrigeration system, and this must be a non overrideable function. Last of all, the software should give CLEAR indications when procedures that shouldn't be interrupted are occurring, and refuse certain actions without multiple people approving it.

Implementing these kinds of interlocks and safeguards should be quite obvious during the design state.

[TheNumberOfTheBeast]

These videos have such high production value and are just amazing. Nice score too

[TheMilkyPyrate]

God, watching these fluid animations is astonishing. The way the liquid ammonia at the tip of the flow beads up as it evaporates is just amazing

[unbrokenandalive]

USCSB has rapidly become my favorite channel!! As someone who spent years working in contracted hazardous/non-hazardous Industrial cleanups - I have a strong relation to many of the settings and processes, along with the many potential hazards that silently loom just beneath the surface of these operations. Binge watching these well-made videos has become a dedicated part of my weekend routine. Thank you.

[pdiep]

I can't get enough of these videos, well made and very informative.

[hillaryclinton]

all engineers and designers should be required to watch all of the CSB videos at least once per year. Get that 'think about it' on.

[jaguarfacedman]

Damn. This channel is good. Why didnt i find it sooner?

[Cordman]

Talk about pure coincidence. It was pure (un)luck that people were gathered at the site not far from the ammonia burst. It was also pure luck no one died as a result of being exposed to anhydrous ammonia.

[Lauzana]

Another excellent and valuable CSB Safety video!
I would like to suggest CSB to add the transcript of the safety videos at each CSB investigation webpage. It would make easier to translate them in other languages, and add subtitles to those videos.

[Kradmelder_Marc_Sellmann]

Great Videos. I'm serving in an State OSHA Authority here in germany and have to investigate accident and worker complaints related to hazardous chemicals (although our incidents are mostly smaller).
Every video from CBS shows me new stuff to learn from.
Thank you for that and greetings from Germany.

[daniellbondad]

The people who do know about hydraulic shocks, usually call them ''water hammer''.