OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14482004
SANITARY BOTTLING CO INC
WILLIAMSON, WV—
Event description
EXPLOSION OF CO2 STORAGE TANK
Investigation abstract
A SOFT DRINK MANUFACTURER HAD A 3 TON CAPACITY CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) RECEIVER TAN K AT THE PLANT. THE TANK CONTAINED 2000 POUNDS ON THE DAY OF THE EXPLOSION. THE ESTABLISHMENT WAS EVACUATED DUE TO FLOODING RIVER WATERS IN THE AREA. THE PLANT WAS SECURED AND EVACUATED. NO EMPLOYEES WERE AT THE WORKPLACE. SUDDENLY, THE STO RAGE TANK ROCKETED 100 FEET INTO A NEARBY HOUSE. POSSIBLE CAUSES: 1. THE FLOOD W ATERS ROSE TO A LEVEL ABOVE THE 2 SAFETY RELIEF VALVES, CAUSING THE VALVES TO FR EEZE UP. THE TANK WAS THEN UNABLE TO VENT. THE PRESSURE BUILT UP AND THE TANK BL EW. 2. THE PIPING SYSTEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM THE TANK DUE TO WATER PRESSURE. THE SAME EFFECT COULD OCCUR.
Victim
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#981 Degree 0 Age 0
- Nature of injury
- 0
- Part of body
- 0
- Event type
- 0
- Source
- 0
- Occupation code
- 0
- Human factor
- 0
- Environmental factor
- 0
- Task assigned
- 0
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