EH has reported similar events. Some examples follow. Approximately 2.5 ounces of the slurry was released, spraying the contractor and the ceiling. He was preparing waste containers for shipment to an off-site waste disposal facility, and violated procedures by adding water to the container. The water reacted with the Raney nickel releasing hydrogen and pressurizing the container.
Raney nickel is a finely-divided alloy of nickel and aluminum, suspended in water.
This event is significant because improper handling of hazardous chemicals can cause serious personnel injury. An engineer saw a yellow-brown vapor rising from the stack and, believing this was abnormal, reported it to the facility manager. Operators were regenerating resin at the time the release was discovered. They terminated the process after the engineer reported seeing the vapor, and the discharge from the vent stopped. Investigators determined that an operator had added more reactant to a waste tank than the procedure specified on the previous day.