Safety Flash
Update to SF 11/19: Fatality and multiple injuries – flash fire onboard pipe-lay barge
Update to SF 11/19: Fatality and multiple injuries – flash fire onboard pipe-lay barge
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 24/19
- Hazardous SubstancesHot Work and FireMachinery and EquipmentPressure Systems
- FireHazardous substancesLoss of containmentMechanical failure
- Inspection and maintenance
- Operating and work procedures
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
This flash updates a pipe-lay barge incident involving repair of stuck polypropylene field-joint coating equipment. Vapour and droplets escaped during piston extraction and ignited, injuring fourteen people; one later died. It describes medical evacuation and recommends temperature control through the integrated system and manufacturer consultation on permissible repairs.
Classifications: Fire; fire safety.
Classifications: Hazardous substances; hazardous chemicals; chemical exposure.
Classifications: Loss of containment; containment loss.
Classifications: Mechanical failure; equipment failure.
Classifications: Inspection and maintenance; asset inspection; equipment maintenance.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
This Safety Flash comprises an update on the flash fire which occurred onboard a pipe-lay barge earlier in 2019, and includes our members’ findings on the causes of the incident, and lessons learned.
IMCA SF 24/19. Themes: hazardous substances, hot work and fire, machinery and equipment, pressure systems.