Investigation Report
AirGas Facility Fatal Explosion
AirGas Facility Fatal Explosion
- CSB
- Investigation Report
- Explosion
- ExplosionFunctional safetyLearning from incidentsProcess safetyRegulation and legislation
- Fluid transferInspection and maintenance
- Process pipework and pipelinesPumpsStorage tanksValve
- Functional testingManagement of changePreventive maintenanceRisk assessment
- Downstream and process industries
- Onshore facility
Summary
CSB investigates the fatal nitrous oxide explosion at Airgas in Cantonment, Florida, on 28 August 2016. Probable initiation involved transfer-pump heating during trailer loading, although the initiating event remains uncertain. Analysis examines flame arrestors, interlock design, pump changes and process safety management, alongside earlier explosions and recommendations for inherently safer design.
Classifications: Explosion; explosive atmospheres.
Classifications: Functional safety; safety instrumented systems; SIS.
Classifications: Learning from incidents; incident learning; lessons learnt; lessons learned.
Classifications: Process safety; major accident hazards.
Classifications: Regulation and legislation; safety legislation; regulatory requirements.
Classifications: Fluid transfer; fluid loading; fluid offloading.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Process pipework and pipelines; process piping.
Classifications: Pumps.
Classifications: Storage tanks; atmospheric tanks.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Functional testing; function test.
Classifications: Management of change; MOC; change management.
Classifications: Preventive maintenance; preventative maintenance; planned maintenance.
Classifications: Risk assessment; hazard assessment.
Classifications: Downstream and process industries; refining; petrochemicals.
Classifications: Onshore facility; onshore plant.
Summary
The CSB's final report was released at a news conference in Pensacola, FL on 4/20/2017.
Themes: explosion.