OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14402283
BURN,HYDROGEN,REPAIR,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,WORK RULES,FIRE,VALVE,REFINERY
Event description
Three employees burned in hydrogen fire
Investigation abstract
At approximately 10:30 p.m. on April 22, 1987, Employees #1 through #3 were work and third-degree burns over their bodies. All three employees were hospitalized. ing in the sulfur recovery unit (SRU) trying to restore the flow of hydrogen to the SCOT unit. The SRU had several components, and Employees #1 through #3 were trying to isolate the cause of the problem. Hydrogen was entering the regulators at 200 psi, but the pressure dropped to 18 to 20 psi after it passed through th em. The employees blocked a valve preceding the regulators and bled the bleeders before removing a flange located beyond the valve. Employee #1 then opened the blocked valve to check the flow. A hiss was heard, followed by a pop, and the ar ea became engulfed in flames. Employees #1 through #3 suffered first-, second-,
Victims (3)
-
#1 Hospitalized Age 27 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Hospitalized Age 36 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#3 Hospitalized Age 34 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Task assigned
- 1
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