Reflux drum, post-incident. Photo: Chemical Safety board
Washington — Thorough cleaning and inspection of chemical vessels after a confined space entry is an essential part of incident prevention, the Chemical Safety Board stresses in a final report on a July 2023 explosion and fire.
CSB investigated the incident, which occurred at the Dow Louisiana Operations Glycol II plant in Plaquemine, LA. The explosion and fire resulted in the release of ethylene oxide, a toxic gas that’s often used to sterilize medical equipment and has been linked to cancer and neurological problems.
Two months prior to the incident, work lights had been “inadvertently left behind” in a reflux drum after workers performed maintenance and inspection. The lights eventually degraded, CSB found, creating metal debris that entered pressure relief piping and mixed with the air. The debris punctured an adjacent tank holding EtO, causing an ignition.
Washington — Thorough cleaning and inspection of chemical vessels after a confined space entry is an essential part of incident prevention, the Chemical Safety Board stresses in a final report on a July 2023 explosion and fire.
CSB investigated the incident, which occurred at the Dow Louisiana Operations Glycol II plant in Plaquemine, LA. The explosion and fire resulted in the release of ethylene oxide, a toxic gas that’s often used to sterilize medical equipment and has been linked to cancer and neurological problems.
Two months prior to the incident, work lights had been “inadvertently left behind” in a reflux drum after workers performed maintenance and inspection. The lights eventually degraded, CSB found, creating metal debris that entered pressure relief piping and mixed with the air. The debris punctured an adjacent tank holding EtO, causing an ignition.
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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication