A South Korean government agency risked fatal accidents by issuing false safety reports on hydrogen refuelling hoses for companies working on government-funded R&D projects, according to local reports.
Newspaper Hani reported that a government audit of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) found 14 cases over three years, between January 2020 and December 2022, of “false and fabricated” test reports being issued.
Set up in 1989, KITECH is a national institution that conducts epidemiological, chemical and electrical tests for products and services to ensure they meet national standards.
Of the 14 instances uncovered by the audit, 13 involved reports being issued without any testing having taken place.
A senior technician at KITECH’s Saenggi facility, dubbed “Mr A”, is said to have “pretended” to have conducted tensile strength and hydraulic rupture tests on hydrogen refuelling hoses requested by two South Korean firms undertaking government research.
The tests are supposed to determine the force at which the hose would break by deforming it, and what pressures would then rupture it.
“If the test results are incorrect, safety problems such as fatal accidents may occur,” the audit said.
The audit said the falsely issued test reports appeared to “meet all the conditions requested” by the companies.
It said it was not until December 2023 that the companies requesting the reports were notified that the results were falsified. Those companies are said to have requested testing from other organisations since.
Mr. A had disciplinary action against him confirmed last March, which was limited to a two-month suspension.
Another KITECH worker who was involved has resigned and not faced disciplinary action.
The findings come as hydrogen safety is climbing the agenda, as governments and companies look to deploy hydrogen technologies.
Speaking to H2 View recently, Nick Barilo, Director of the Center for Hydrogen Safety, based in the US, said that as projects ramp up, any stakeholder and public confidence issues need to be addressed.
“Getting that strong safety culture built in will be important to doing this successfully,” Barilo said.
