104,543Records 70,659Employers 84,666Hospitalizations 27,563Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-09-30
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14259386

VALVE,PROPANE,BURN,VAPOR,PRESSURE VESSEL,FIRE,GAS,GAS LEAK,PRESSURE RELEASE,WATER

Event
VALVE,PROPANE,BURN,VAPOR,PRESSURE VESSEL,FIRE,GAS,GAS LEAK,PRESSURE RELEASE,WATER
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14259386
Report ID
625700

Event description

EMPLOYEES BURNED IN PROPANE FIRE

Investigation abstract

A GAS PROCESSING PLANT WAS ENGAGED IN A "MINOR" TURNAROUND, DUE TO A LEAK OF THE THE EMPLOYEES IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA WERE BURNED. PLANT PRODUCT INTO THE COOLING WATER. IN ONE SYSTEM PROPANE GAS IS SENT THROUGH A CONDENSER AT 100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND 90 PSI, WHERE IT IS COOLED AND LIQUIF IED. IT IS THEN STORED IN AN 8000 GALLON ACCUMULATOR VESSEL. THERE WAS NO BLOCK VALVE BETWEEN THE ACCUMULATOR AND THE CONDENSER. EMPLOYEE #7 REMOVED A 1/2 INCH DRAIN VALVE FROM THE SHELL SIDE OF THE PROPANE CONDENSER, WHICH WAS STILL UNDER PRESSURE. THIS CAUSED A RELEASE OF PROPANE GAS, WHICH LASTED FOUR TO SIX MINUTES BEFORE IT IGNITED. THEY WERE UNABLE TO BLOCK IN THE CONDENSER AND APPROXIMATELY 3000 GALLONS OF PROPANE IN THE ACCUMULATOR VESSEL VAPORIZED AND BURNED. ALL OF

Victims (7)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 32 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    14
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    10
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 29 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    14
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    10
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 46 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    14
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    10
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 48 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    14
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    10
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    13
    Event type
    6
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    10
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 36 M

    Nature of injury
    20
    Part of body
    3
    Event type
    5
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    10
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  7. #7 Hospitalized Age 59 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    14
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    10
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

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