Investigation Report
AB Specialty Silicones, LLC
AB Specialty Silicones, LLC
- CSB
- Investigation Report
- Process Safety
- ExplosionHydrogen safetyLeadership and safety cultureProcess safetyRegulation and legislation
- Gas detector
- Evacuation, escape and rescueOperating and work proceduresRisk assessmentVentilation
- Downstream and process industries
- Onshore facility
Summary
Investigation of a fatal hydrogen explosion during silicone-emulsion batch manufacture in Waukegan, Illinois. Reactivity experiments linked unintended potassium hydroxide addition to hydrogen generation. The report examines similar chemical drums, atmospheric batch tanks, ventilation, failed detector trials, evacuation preparedness and procedural checks, alongside process safety culture and regulatory gaps for reactive chemicals.
Classifications: Explosion; explosive atmospheres.
Classifications: Hydrogen safety.
Classifications: Leadership and safety culture; safety culture; safety leadership.
Classifications: Process safety; major accident hazards.
Classifications: Regulation and legislation; safety legislation; regulatory requirements.
Classifications: Gas detector; gas monitor; gas detection instrument.
Classifications: Evacuation, escape and rescue; EER; escape and rescue.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Risk assessment; hazard assessment.
Classifications: Ventilation; forced ventilation.
Classifications: Downstream and process industries; refining; petrochemicals.
Classifications: Onshore facility; onshore plant.
Summary
An investigation into a process safety incident at a specialty chemicals facility.
Themes: process safety.