Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 565291 - EMPLOYEE BURNED IN CHEMICAL PRESSURE VESSEL EXPLOSION

Accident Summary Nr: 565291 -- Report ID: 0627100 -- Event Date: 09/25/1989
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
106572563	09/26/1989	2879	0	Cedar Chemical Corporation

Abstract: EMPLOYEE #1 WAS BADLY BURNED WHEN A PRESSURE VESSEL CONTAINING 15,000 POUNDS OF METHYL THIOTINACOLONE (MTPO) EXPLODED, DESTROYING THE VESSEL, THE BUILDING, AND IGNITING THE ALCOHOL AT THE LOCATION. THE RESULTING FIRE DESTROYED ALL INDICATORS, READINGS, AND LOGS FOR THIS PROCESS. A DETAILED EXAMINATION WAS NOT PERMITTED BECAUSE THE STRUCTURE HAD BEEN WEAKENED TO SUCH A GREAT EXTENT. EMPLOYEE #1 REFUSED TO BE INTERVIEWED; HOWEVER, THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT HE ACKNOWLEDGED AN ALARM DURING THE PROCESS AND TURNED IT OFF. OPERATOR ERROR APPEARS TO BE A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, THE MIX BEING PROCESSED WAS A 3-BATCH RATHER THAN THE CUSTOMARY 4-BATCH MIX; WHETHER THE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE IS UNKNOWN. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT EXCESS TEMPERATURE RESULTED IN DECOMPOSITION AND AN EXOTHERMIC REACTION.

Keywords: BURN, ALCOHOL, PRESSURE VESSEL, WORK RULES, FIRE, EXPLOSION, HIGH PRESSURE, PROCESS SAFETY, HIGH TEMPERATURE

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	106572563			Hospitalized injury	Burn(Chemical)	Occupation not reported

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