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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 304409436 - Air Liquide
Inspection Information - Office: Utah Division Of Occupational Safety And Health
Site Address:
Air Liquide
250 American Way
Brigham City, UT 84032
Mailing Address:
1261 W 300 S, Lindon, UT 84042
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:2813
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 11/20/2001
Planning Guide: Safety-Manufacturing
Emphasis: S:Manufacturing
Case Closed: 04/13/2004
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 362653958 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $750 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $750 |
| Current Penalty | $750 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $750 |
| 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 | 19100104 B05 III | 12/17/2001 | 01/02/2002 | $750 | $750 | $0 | - | ||
| 2. | 02001 | Other | 19100104 B08 VIII | 12/17/2001 | 01/07/2002 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - |
Investigation Summary
On June 26, 2001 an explosion occurred, injuring Employee #1 and Employee #2. The immediate cause of the accident was the closing and subsequent opening of the valve which failed. Due to it being a ball valve this resulted in the valve going from fully closed to fully open with just a quarter turn of the handle. As a result high pressure oxygen was allowed into a low pressure area quickly enough so that the resulting adiabatic heating and/or frictional heating generated enough heat to ignite the fluorocarbon coating on the ball stem. The resulting fire caused two sides and the front of the valve to explode as did the stainless steel tubing leading from the valve. The resulting flame front flowing out of the valve and flying debris from the explosion caused the injuries. The underlying cause of the accident was the improper design of the oxygen delivery manifold. The valve that failed was not designed for use in a high pressure oxygen system, it was not clearly established that it had been properly cleaned for use in an oxygen system and the delivery manifold had not been designed or reviewed by an engineer qualified to design oxygen delivery systems.
Keywords: OXYGEN, OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, EXPLOSION, LACERATION, ABRASION, VALVE, CONTUSION
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 304409436 | Non Hospitalized injury | Cut/Laceration | Truck drivers, heavy | ||
| 2 | 304409436 | Hospitalized injury | Bruise/Contus/Abras | Miscellaneous plant and system operators |