105,313Records 71,083Employers 85,290Hospitalizations 27,770Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-10-31
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #686303

FLAMMABLE VAPORS,EXPLOSION,BURN,NATURAL GAS,EQUIPMENT FAILURE,VALVE,CONSTRUCTION,GAS,NITROGEN,CRUSHED

Event
FLAMMABLE VAPORS,EXPLOSION,BURN,NATURAL GAS,EQUIPMENT FAILURE,VALVE,CONSTRUCTION,GAS,NITROGEN,CRUSHED
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
686303
Report ID
855610

Event description

1 employee killed, 11 buried in explosion

Investigation abstract

A new compressor had been added to a system that already used seven compressors. The compressor system is used to compress hydrocarbon gas, a mixture of methane and nitrogen, for re-injection into existing gas and oil production fields in o rder to enhance production. The oil startup of the new system on an inline Hoerb iger check valve allowed gas to escape. The escaping gas ignited, creating an ex plosion that blew out the east end of the compressor building. The fire burned E mployees #1 through #12. Employee #1 was found dead under a portion of the east end wall that was blown out. It was not determined whether he was outside the bu ilding or whether he was blown out with the wall. No ignition source was found.

Victims (12)

  1. #1 Fatality Age 42 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    2
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #10 Hospitalized Age 40 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    2
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    575
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #11 Hospitalized Age 36 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    2
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #12 Hospitalized Age 40 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    2
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #2 Hospitalized Age 42 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    2
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #3 Hospitalized Age 40 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    2
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

  7. #4 Hospitalized Age 40 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    2
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

  8. #5 Hospitalized Age 42 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    2
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    575
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

  9. #6 Hospitalized Age 50 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    2
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    599
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

  10. #7 Hospitalized Age 27 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    2
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

  11. #8 Hospitalized Age 40 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    2
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

  12. #9 Hospitalized Age 40 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    2
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

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