Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1624568 - Texaco Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Baton Rouge Area Office

Inspection Nr: 1624568

Report ID: 0625700

Date Opened: 08/24/1984

Site Address:
Texaco Inc
Airline Hwy & I 10
Sorrento, LA 70778

Mailing Address:
P O Box 37, Convent, LA 70723

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:2911

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 09/05/1984

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 10/01/1987

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	360551386

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1					1
Current Violations	1					1
Initial Penalty	$640	$0	$0	$0	$0	$640
Current Penalty	$470	$0	$0	$0	$0	$470
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	19100178 M11	09/13/1984	09/16/1984	$470	$640	$0	10/09/1984	J - ALJ Decision

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 14258917

Event: 08/01/1984

FIRE AND EXPLOSION OF A BUTANE CLOUD

ON THE MORNING OF AUGUST 1, 1984, EMPLOYEE #1 WAS WORKING AT A SALT DOME WHERE BUTANE WAS STORED (850,000 BARRELS CAPACITY). HE HAD FINISHED CHECKING WELLHEAD #5-1. HE WAS DRIVING A CUSHMAN TRUCKSTER (MODEL #898302-75101) WHICH WAS ELECTRICALLY OPERATED. HE DROVE THE TRUCKSTER INTO A BUTANE CLOUD. A FLASH FIRE AND EXPLOSION RESULTED, CAUSING SEVERE BURNS OVER 85 TO 90% OF EMPLOYEE #1'S BODY. BRINE WATER FROM A PIT IS USED TO MOVE BUTANE OUT OF THE DOME AND INTO THE PIPELINE SYSTEM. THE BUTANE APPARENTLY LEAKED INTO THE RETURNING BRINE CASING AND PROCEEDED TO A PIT WHERE A CLOUD FORMED. THE COMPANY WILL PULL THE WELLHEAD WHEN ALL HYDROCARBON PRODUCT HAS BEEN REMOVED AND ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE BUTANE LEAK. THE SOURCE OF IGNITION IS STILL UNDETERMINED. A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE LEAK MAY BE A FAILURE IN THE CASING OR THE VALVES. THE WELLHEAD AREA IS A CLASS I, DIVISION 2 LOCATION. THE ENTIRE AREA INSIDE THE FENCE 1S A "NO SMOKING/NO OPEN FLAME " AREA. A RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE THAT ONLY APPROVED DESIGNATED EQUIPMENT FOR CLASS 1, DIVISION 2 LOCATIONS BE USED NEAR THE WELLHEAD AREAS.

Keywords: BURN, BUTANE, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, FIRE, EXPLOSION

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	1624568			Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported

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