The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final investigation report and incident animation for the 2018 fire that injured 23 workers at the Kuraray America EVAL plant in Pasadena, Texas.
Article continues below
The CSB’s report explains the events leading up to the incident, including how the incident occurred during the startup of a chemical reactor system following a scheduled maintenance shutdown – also referred to as a turnaround.
High pressure conditions developed inside the reactor and activated the reactor’s emergency pressure relief system, discharging flammable ethylene vapor through piping into an area where a number of contractors were working.
Over 2,300 pounds of ethylene were released in approximately three minutes. The work being done by the nearby contractors included welding, which most likely ignited the flammable vapor.
Among the 23 workers injured during the incident, two were life-flighted from the facility, one of whom remained in critical condition for several days because of burn injuries. As many as 19 others were transported to the hospital by emergency responders for various injuries.
The CSB determined that the cause of the incident was Kuraray’s emergency pressure relief system design that discharged flammable ethylene vapor from the reactor through horizontally aimed piping into the air in an area near workers.
If Kuraray’s emergency pressure relief system had been designed to discharge the vapor to a safe location, the flammable ethylene gas should not have harmed any workers.
CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said, “Kuraray could have prevented the injuries to these workers by ensuring that the flammable ethylene gas discharged from its system was directed to a safe location. Kuraray also should have evacuated these workers from the area when the reactor’s high-pressure alarm sounded, since it was signaling a serious problem with the reactor.â€
The CSB is making several safety recommendations to the company, including a call for Kuraray America to develop and implement a standard to ensure that these safety systems discharge to a safe location.
CSB Board Member Sylvia Johnson said, “The CSB’s final report and safety recommendations aim to take the valuable lessons learned from our investigations and implement necessary changes to improve workplace safety throughout this facility and across the industry.†■