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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 111453817 - Pm Northwest Inc
Inspection Information - Office: Dosh Everett Service Location, Everett, Wa
Site Address:
Pm Northwest Inc
Bp Refinery 3901 Unick Rd
Ferndale, WA 98248
Mailing Address:
Po Box 549, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Union Status: Union
SIC:1799
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Complete
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 03/07/1991
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 09/23/1992
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 361032519 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 3 | 1 | 4 | |||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $7,250 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $7,250 |
| Current Penalty | $360 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $360 |
| 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 | 0241101703 A | 03/21/1991 | 03/07/1991 | $1,750 | $1,750 | $0 | 03/29/1991 | Y - State Decision | Citation has been deleted. |
| 2. | 01002 | Serious | 0240750101 A | 03/21/1991 | 01/17/1992 | $360 | $2,750 | $0 | 03/29/1991 | Y - State Decision | |
| 3. | 01003 | Serious | 0241101501 | 03/21/1991 | 06/21/1991 | $2,750 | $2,750 | $0 | 03/29/1991 | Y - State Decision | Citation has been deleted. |
| 4. | 02001 | Other | 0621452503 | 03/21/1991 | 04/02/1991 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 03/29/1991 | Y - State Decision |
Investigation Summary
At approximately 4:15 p.m. on January 19, 1991, Employees #1 through #7 were working at a refinery, pulling a blind out of a 24 in. transfer line between a crude oil heater and an atmospheric tower. The burners on the side of the crude heater opposite the transfer lines were on, but pinched back to the pilot setting. The atmospheric tower was left full of hydrocarbon product. Nitrogen was pumped into the transfer line through a bleeder on the tower side of the blind. All of this was done at the start of the project; pulling the blind was the last task. When the blind was opened, the nitrogen flowed out, followed by hydrocarbon vapors from the tower. The vapors were pulled through the heater and ignited by the pilot light. There was an explosion inside the heater that ignited the vapors outside, resulting in a second explosion. Employees #1 through #7 were hospitalized for burns; Employee #1 died as a result of his injuries that same night. Three of the employees worked for the refinery; the remaining four worked for a subcontractor.
Keywords: BURN, VAPOR, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, CONSTRUCTION, NITROGEN, EXPLOSION, CHEMICAL VAPOR, REFINERY
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 111453817 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 2 | 111453817 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 3 | 111453817 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 4 | 111453817 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 5 | 111453817 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 6 | 111453817 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 7 | 111453817 | Fatality | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported |