The West Haven campus of the Virginia Connecticut Health Care System is seen from West Spring Street on July 20, 2021.
West HAVEN — A simple cast iron flange in an aging steam pipe in a veterans Affairs Medical Center building suddenly broke into four sections on November 13, 2020, releasing high-pressure steam that killed two men, a federal investigation has found.
The Virginia investigation into the accident, which recounts what happened that morning, describes how Joseph O’Donnell, who had been hired to fix a pipe leak, went into the basement of Building 22 and was asked to do so by his younger friend. Accompanied by Euel Sims Jr., pipeline supervisor, and the equipment failures and safety measures that led to their deaths. Since then, VA has made or planned a number of changes, including the Steam upgrade project.
However, the report said factors contributing to the 2020 accident included outdated pipes and no longer meeting current material standards, improperly installed valves and pipes that led to water flooding, and an alleged failure to follow LOTO Lock out Tag out procedures to ensure personnel safety.
Photo taken on July 20, 2021 shows the West Spring Street entrance of the Connecticut Health Care System’s West Haven campus in Virginia.
Finally, when the men opened the pipe, steam roared through the six-inch pipe with such force that a flange at the bottom of the vertical dropper broke into four sections, allowing steam to blow into the room. The report.
The New Haven Registry obtained the Virginia survey report, released April 15, through a Freedom of information request. All the names have been edited.
The incident led to a failed review of West Haven, Virginia, leading to nine notices from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and a request to Congress to rebuild the medical center.
Post time: Jul-31-2021