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.”