Inspection Detail

Inspection: 18475376 - R J Reynolds Tobacco Co

Inspection Information - Office: Nc Department Of Labor - Raleigh

Inspection Nr: 18475376

Report ID: 0453710

Date Opened: 01/19/1990

Site Address:
R J Reynolds Tobacco Co
220 East Polo Road
Winston Salem, NC 27105

Mailing Address:
Corporate Safety Department, P. O. Box 2959, Winston-Salem, NC 27102

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:7389

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 03/21/1990

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 03/21/1990

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	360488001

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 760587

Event: 01/18/1990

Employees uninjured in MEK solvent tank explosion

At approximately 9:00 a.m. on January 18, 1990, contract employees were replacing pipe at the flammable liquids tank farm of RJ Reynolds Plant #604, Winston-Salem, NC. They heard a sound similar to pressure being released or relieved, which was followed immediately by a blast -- the entire top of the methyl ethyl ketone tank (tank #4 in the farm) had blown off and was fully engulfed in flames. The local fire department and the plant's fire brigade were summoned. The fire was extinguished in approximately one hour (around 10:00 a.m.). The tank involved in the fire was heavily damaged and some of the surrounding tanks sustained damage, but no employees of the contractor or RJ Reynolds were injured.

Keywords: MEK, FIRE, EXPLOSION, TANK

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	18475376					Occupation Not Listed

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