Inspection Detail
Inspection: 123650574 - Marathon Oil Company
Inspection Information - Office: Houston South Area Office
Site Address:
Marathon Oil Company
10th St
Texas City, TX 77591
Mailing Address:
P.O.Box 1191, Texas City, TX 77592
Union Status: Union
SIC:2911
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 10/17/1994
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 06/09/1995
Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
---|---|---|---|
Accident | 361140908 |
Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Violations | 6 | 6 | ||||
Current Violations | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
Initial Penalty | $27,200 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $27,200 |
Current Penalty | $10,200 | $0 | $0 | $850 | $0 | $11,050 |
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 | Other | 19100119 C02 | 11/07/1994 | 03/12/1995 | $850 | $4,250 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
2. | 01002A | Serious | 19100119 D03 IB | 11/07/1994 | 12/12/1994 | $4,250 | $4,250 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. | |
3. | 01002B | Serious | 19100119 J06 II | 11/07/1994 | 12/12/1994 | $0 | $0 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. | |
4. | 01003 | Serious | 19100119 F01 IB | 11/07/1994 | 12/12/1994 | $4,250 | $4,250 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. | |
5. | 01004 | Serious | 19100119 F01 IIIB | 11/07/1994 | 02/12/1995 | $4,250 | $4,250 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
6. | 01005 | Serious | 19100119 F04 | 11/07/1994 | 12/12/1994 | $4,250 | $4,250 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. | |
7. | 01006 | Serious | 19100119 J04 II | 11/07/1994 | 04/12/1995 | $5,950 | $5,950 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
At approximately 8:00 p.m. on July 16, 1994, Employee #1, an operator in the alky unit of an oil refinery, was between the acid regeneration system and the neutralization system. The level in the rerun tower (part of the acid regeneration system) was controlled by an automatic level control valve (92LC0102), which allowed the stream to flow to the ASO neutralization system. A line break at a T just past this control valve occurred while Employee #1 was trying to remove a bull plug from a 3/4 in. bleeder pipe. Employee #1 told the stillman that he was trying to correct a blockage in the line. The method he was using was not a normal method commonly used by the operators interviewed, and according to the alky unit operators, the operation that Employee #1 was performing did not have written operating procedures. The bleeder pipe that broke from the T was approximately 17 in. long with the Durco valve about 4 in. from the break and about 10 in. from the break to another T containing a bull plug. Another bull plug was also on the end of the bleeder. The P and IDs did not show this configuration for this bleeder. Employee #1 was exposed to acid-soluble oil or ASO, which contains 5 to 20 percent HF. He suffered chemical burns and was killed.
Keywords: PIPE PLUG, CAUSTIC, WORK RULES, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, CHEMICAL BURN, PIPE, REFINERY
# | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 123650574 | Fatality | Burn(Chemical) | Miscellaneous plant and system operators |