Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: EXPLOSION

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that: a) On or about December 31, 1990, at the number 1 crude topping unit, employees were exposed to the hazard of fire and explosion when sour water and flammable hydrocarbons were drained from the water boot of the D-30 reflux drum into the atmospheric hydrocarbon drain in the vicinity of the W-1 distillation tower during a process upset condition. Drainage systems were not properly maintained allowing the back-up of hydrocarbons and the spreading of fire. Feasible and acceptable abatement methods, among others, to correct this hazards are to: a) Prohibit opening of drain valves into open sewers without assurance that dangerous quantities of flammable materials are not present in the sour water being drained. b) Provide for the removal of sour water that has dangerous quanitites of flammable liquid to a safe location. Procedures and design changes to accomplish the above include: a) Clearance of drain lines on the number 1 crude topping unit of any plugging or obstruction before use. b) Construction of an ecnlosed piping system from the manual drain on the bottom of the D-30 reflux drum sufficient to safely confine and remove sour water with residual flammable liquid to a storage tank or other safe location.