OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14224075
BURN,FIRE,NAPHTHA,EXPLOSION,REFINERY
Event description
ONE EMPLOYEE KILLED, ONE INJURED IN EXPLOSION
Investigation abstract
At 4:24 p.m. on May 24, 1988, an explosion and fire occurred at the ultraforming degree burns over 85 percent of his body and was taken to the hospital, where he died on June 2, 1988. Employee #2 received less severe burns and was taken to t he hospital. He was released on June 11, 1988. unit (desulphurization section) of the Amoco Oil refinery in Grafton, VA. Emplo yee #1 was draining naphtha from a knockout drum (used to separate liquids and g ases) to the concrete surface. Puddles of naphtha had accumulated 2 in. to 3 in. deep on the concrete surface. Employee #2 was attempting to restart a General E lectric 1250 hp inductive motor located approximately 23 ft from the drum. The m otor and motor associated compressor had cut off because too much liquid had acc umulated in the drum. Two attempts to start the motor had failed. On the third a ttempt, an explosion and fire occurred. Employee #1 sustained second- and third-
Victims (2)
-
#1 Fatality Age 35 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 214
- Human factor
- 17
- Environmental factor
- 10
- Hazardous substance
- 2037
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Hospitalized Age 25 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 214
- Human factor
- 17
- Environmental factor
- 10
- Hazardous substance
- 2037
- Task assigned
- 1
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