Inspection Detail
Inspection: 102422565 - Petrolite Specialty Polymers Group
Inspection Information - Office: Oklahoma City Area Office
Site Address:
Petrolite Specialty Polymers Group
800 S. Birch Lake Rd.
Barnsdall, OK 74002
Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 669, Barnsdall, OK 74002
Union Status: Union
SIC:2911
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Referral
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 06/19/1990
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 08/24/1990
Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
---|---|---|---|
Accident | 360458400 | ||
Referral | 901033118 | Yes |
Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Violations | 3 | 3 | ||||
Current Violations | 3 | 3 | ||||
Initial Penalty | $3,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,000 |
Current Penalty | $3,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,000 |
FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
# | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 01001 | Serious | 19100037 L02 | 07/13/1990 | 07/21/1990 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $0 | - | ||
2. | 01002 | Serious | 19100106 B04 II | 07/13/1990 | 08/13/1990 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $0 | - | ||
3. | 01003 | Serious | 19100307 B | 07/13/1990 | 07/16/1990 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $0 | - |
Investigation Summary
At approximately 9:00 p.m. on June 18, 1990, a crew consisting of Employee #1 and three coworkers was operating a polyethylene plant to produce a unioin alcohol wax product. As part of the oxidation process, Employee #1 was on the second floor purging a half full, 2,000 gallon process vessel of toluene and oxygen-rich vapors. The flammable vapors and oxygen were to be vented three times outside of and down from the north side's second floor exit door. A vent line had been recently installed for this purpose. Two coworkers were in the first floor office. Another employee was preparing a vessel to receive the wax, a process that stops the oxidation. Employee #1 was to vent the process vessel once at 100 percent vapor volume, and twice with nitrogen. The vented vapors were ignited by static electricity or some other source and returned to the vessel. This caused an internal explosion and the release of additional flammable vapors, which caused a second explosion and started a fire throughout the majority of the second floor. The coworkers evacuated the plant without injury and began shutting down the support systems while the fire brigade and fire units responded. Employee #1 escaped outside; however, he was severely burned. The fire was extinguished and Employee #1 was evacuated to an area burn hospital. On June 25, 1990, Employee #1 died from his injuries.
Keywords: BURN, OXYGEN, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, FIRE, TOLUENE, EXPLOSION
# | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 102422565 | Fatality | Burn(Chemical) | Occupation not reported |