OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #704528
TEXAS EASTERN GAS PIPELINE COMPANY
ACCIDENT, MD·
Event description
Two employees killed, three injured when tank explodes
Investigation abstract
Employee #1, of HMH Corporation, was arc welding a metal toeboard to the existin brain hemorrhage. Employee #2 injured his lower left leg and right arm below th e elbow and bruised his left side. Employee #3 bruised his left elbow and receiv ed a laceration and torn muscles on the lower left leg. Both were hospitalized. The coworker on the ground was not injured. Employee #1 had more than ten years experience as a welder. Employees #1, #3 and #4 had received the following hazar dous training components: physical data; fire and explosion data; health data; r eactivity data; spill and leak procedures; protective equipment to be used; and special precautions concerning methanol. The tank was originally 3/16 in. thick but in many places had rusted on the interior to a thickness of 3/32 in. or less . g standard railings on the top of a 15 ft tall by 10 ft diameter carbon steel st orage tank. He was being assisted at the top of the tank by Employees #2 through #4. A coworker was on the ground was operating a Lincoln arc welder, serial #A 666426, making fine adjustments to the heat. Employee #1 accidentally touched th e 1/8 in. welding rod that was being held in the electrode holder on the tank, c ausing a burn hole through which hot metal slag fell into the tank. The slag ign ited the methanol vapors, causing an explosion. Employee #1 died of extensive in juries to his head, chest, and abdomen. Employee #4 died of a skull fracture and
Victims (4)
-
#1 Fatality Age 31 M
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 43
- Occupation code
- 599
- Human factor
- 18
- Environmental factor
- 18
- Hazardous substance
- 1660
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Hospitalized Age 35 M
- Nature of injury
- 3
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 6
- Source
- 43
- Occupation code
- 599
- Human factor
- 18
- Environmental factor
- 18
- Hazardous substance
- 1660
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#3 Hospitalized Age 36 M
- Nature of injury
- 3
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 6
- Source
- 43
- Occupation code
- 599
- Human factor
- 18
- Environmental factor
- 18
- Hazardous substance
- 1660
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#4 Fatality Age 47 M
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 43
- Occupation code
- 599
- Human factor
- 18
- Environmental factor
- 18
- Hazardous substance
- 1660
- Task assigned
- 1
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