Explosion of acid tank in Fertilizer Plant

 An empty acid tank exploded during maintenance. This occurred in a phosphate fertiliser manufacturing facility in the USA. The lid of the tank apparently flew 100 feet in the air. Two people were injured.There is a lesson from this and other similar incidents - tanks are dangerous, be it empty or full. Follow all proper hot work precautions. Even waste water tanks have exploded during hot work due to the release of gases.

Read about the incident in this link.


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BBC News -China oil pipe blast

BBC News - China oil pipe blast

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Belgium: two dead in Total oil refinery blast in Antwerp | euronews, world news

Belgium: two dead in Total oil refinery blast in Antwerp | euronews, world news

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Gas turbine fire

BBC News - Scunthorpe gas turbine fire 


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Fatality due to gas powered generator

In 2007, a pipeline x ray technician who was developing films in a portable darkroom died due to CO poisoning caused by a gas powered generator. If you use diesel or gas powered generators inside closed spaces, be careful as CO will accumulate. Read the fatal alert in this link.

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Fire in Chevron Refinery

Fire in refinery


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Lightning causes tank to explode

A salt water tank containing trace amounts of hydrocarbon exploded in the USA after a lightning strike. The explosion of the tank caused other nearby tanks also to catch fire. This incident highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of your lightning protection system. Many plant managers do not pay heed to this protection system, thinking it will never happen.
Read about the incident and see a video in this link

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6 injured in explosion inside Tata Steel factory | Business Standard

6 injured in explosion inside Tata Steel factory | Business Standard

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Explosion at Detroit oil refinery raises danger of wider disaster - World Socialist Web Site

Explosion at Detroit oil refinery raises danger of wider disaster - World Socialist Web Site

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Chevron Fire One Year Later - What Will It Take to Prevent Another? - New America Media

Excellent article!

Chevron Fire One Year Later - What Will It Take to Prevent Another? - New America Media

"There needs to be a fundamental shift of the burden of proof that a company is operating safely. Right now, the burden of proof lies with public agencies; they’re charged with playing Sherlock Holmes and trying to find hazardous conditions. What’s needed is to shift the burden of responsibility for safe operation to the plant. They have to demonstrate their competence in health, safety, and environmental performance as a condition of operation. Then a public agency can determine whether the plant is meeting those standards, and whether they’re sufficiently competent or not. That would change things. And, if the whole process is much more transparent and accessible to the public, that would make health, safety, and environmental performance much more compelling to the plant management".

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Structural integrity failure incident

A newly constructed dome for storing iron ore collapsed. Luckily no one was injured. See the pictures and article in this link. The cause of incident is under investigation.

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Trevor Kletz passes away

The father of process safety has passed away at the age of 91. Dr Trevor Kletz had authored many books on process safety and also introduced the concept of inherent safety much before the Bhopal disaster. My early working days were spent devouring his well written books and his subtle sense of humour. I  pray his soul rest in peace!

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