WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Federal regulators have cited aircraft maker Textron Aviation for a December 2019 explosion that injured 15 workers at its Wichita manufacturing plant.
U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration says Textron had a serious violation when it failed to protect employees from “autoclave explosion hazards” at the facility, KWCH-TV reports.
The agency has proposed a $13,494 penalty for the violation.
Liquid nitrogen in a pressurized vessel it referred to as Autoclave 8 built up and suffered a “catastrophic thermal fatigue failure.”
In addition to the fine, OSHA says Textron must also develop and implement measures to “effectively control, discover, maintain and repair pressure vessels, including autoclaves.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.