Incident at university research facility - pressure testing of gas hydrate cell

A master student designed a cell for observing the development of gas hydrates as conditions in the cell were changed. The supervisor asked for a pressure test of the cell before the experiments started. The student chose-to perform the pressure test using compressed air and this resulted in one of the two windows on the cell breaking during the pressure test, resulting in glass fragments showering the laboratory. Luckily no one was hurt. Following this, and other incidents, the university implemented a requirement for a process hazard analysis (PHA) of any new or modified experimental set-ups in the department. This has been successfully used for a number of years to increase student appreciation of process safety in the laboratories and the safety of their workplace.