Document ypXL01Bb16k6L5Mkodxr1NkOD

o Inter - organization Correspondence H. ^alternate J. W. Gressler FIELD FDIKT OR AKRON DEPARTMENT & 81.00. I Cleveland PIEKJO PONT OR AKMH DEPARTMCNT . BLDO. NO. Fedricktown \REGoodrich7 DATE YOUR LETTER DATE THIS LETTER April 20, 1972 NEAR MISS - SMALL VINYL ESCAPE - MASS RESIN - PE0RIC1CI0WN On April 16, 1972, at approximately 4:50 p.m. Repetitive Type Accident #10, "Fill Building or Area with Explosive Mixture.,11 occurred in Mass Resin, Building 512. A vinyl chloride leak, occurred at the emptying port of reactor 8100 while it was being charged. The building was evacuated without incident or injury. On the previous charge reactor 8100 went through the normal sequence and was due for transfer. The emptying port was then opened by means of a jack-bolt. The jack-bolt was screwed into place which allowed the emptying port plug to be removed. The vessel was transferred, emptied, entered and cleaned. The reactor was then prepared to receive the next charge. I The pre-charge check sheet was in order and normal operating procedures were followed. A vacuum was pulled on the autoclave. The vacuum test failed by approx. 3.0". The console technician notified the Mass Resin charging technician of the problem and requested that he check the autoclave. The autoclave was checked and the leak could not be found. The autoclave was then told to run and vinyl charging started. It should be noted at this point that other autoclaves have failed vacuum check by the same amount and have been charged without incident. We have found that our condenser gaskets do swell when vinyl is added and seal off any air leaks. The gasket is made of garLock material. We have had new condenser gaskets on order for approximately eight weeks and just received them. When vinyl was charged the charging technician noted that vinyl was present and immediately activated the fog system, emergency fans and roaster gas alarm. The autoclave was put to hold and immediately put on recovery. The charging technician and lead technician entered the building with air-palcs, backed the jack-bolt off and tightened down on the flange bolts* It is estimated that 35-45 gallons of vinyl were lost. While the corrections were being made the MSA gas anaLyzer did activate. The autoclave was then charged without further incident. Corrective Action The jack-bolt position! will be added to the pre-charge check sheet and will be checked before the autoclave is charged. I a Fa- fttv. V n LiTWO, NGC 15728 J N?AR MISS - SMALL VINYL ESCAPE - MASS RESIN - PEDRICKTOWN Page 2 Corrective Action (Continued) The incident will be given full publicity in all departmental meetings. A standard operating procedure is being adopted for the console technicians to follow. The procedure provides guidelines for checking vacuum failures. The garlock gaskets on the condensers are going to be replaced with stain less steel teflon impregnated gaskets. t JWGirp J. W. Gressler cc: D. L. Dowell - 0. F. Beckraeyer J. L. Nelson - R. D. Scott E. E. Mitchell - P. D. Terry E. W. Harrington - P. H. Lawrence W. E. Brodine G. Pow R. A. Kelley(Akron) A. R. Webber H, T. Evans J. W. Goetsch - E. C. Martinelli - J. Dunlap W. A. Reed - M. F. Knapp - J. Goodman E, Horton - J. M. Fletcher - B,, Baker File NOC 15729