Safety Alert
Safety Alert 214 - Flash Fire and Explosion from Inadequately Vented Production Vessel
Safety Alert 214 - Flash Fire and Explosion from Inadequately Vented Production Vessel
- BSEE
- Safety Alert
- BSEE Safety Alert 214
- ExplosionHot Work and FireProcess Safety
- Confined space hazardsDrowningExplosionFalls from heightFire
- Confined space entry
- Gas detectorPressure vessel
- Fall preventionAtmospheric gas testingOperational supervisionVentilation
- Upstream oil and gas
Summary
A confined-space sampling operation in a low-pressure separator resulted in a flash explosion, injuring four workers and blowing one off the platform into the water. The alert identifies inadequate ventilation and incomplete gas-detector deployment, and recommends procedural confirmation, hatchway hazard awareness, flotation-device readiness and review of guard barriers.
Classifications: Confined space hazards; confined-space hazards.
Classifications: Drowning; man overboard; person overboard.
Classifications: Explosion; explosive atmospheres.
Classifications: Falls from height; fall from height.
Classifications: Fire; fire safety.
Classifications: Confined space entry; tank entry; enclosed space entry.
Classifications: Gas detector; gas monitor; gas detection instrument.
Classifications: Pressure vessel; pressure vessels.
Classifications: Fall prevention; edge protection; guardrails.
Classifications: Atmospheric gas testing; gas testing; atmosphere testing.
Classifications: Operational supervision.
Classifications: Ventilation; forced ventilation.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
Summary
The alert concerns a flash fire and explosion caused by inadequate ventilation on a production vessel.
BSEE Safety Alert 214. Themes: explosion, hot work and fire, process safety.