000 02024nab a2200181 4500
005 20260520004044.0
008 260224s2010 xxu
245 0 0 _aPlant explosion emphasizes importance of implementing PSM
260 _a
_b
_cjun. 2010
270 _a18/08/2010 ; 18/08/2010
300 _a6 p. ; 144-149
520 _aTranscripción del resumen del autor. A few years ago, there was an explosion in a reactor at the XYZ Chemical Company. The reactor was a block copolymerization reactor where butadiene and styrene monomers were added in a semibatch manner. The heat of reaction was removed by means of a refrigeration system. The incident occurred when the reactants were not added in the sequence or quantity required. The resulting runaway reaction overpressurized the reactor system and caused an expansion joint to rupture. The hydrocarbons released formed a vapor cloud that exploded, causing the death of two workers, serious injury to three others, and significant damage to the facility. The contributing causes of the incident include: (a) lack of information about the hazards of the chemicals in the process, (b) lack of information about the equipment in the process and inadequate equipment, (c) inadequate or no PHA, (d) inadequate training, (e) confusing operating procedures, (f) failure to use management of change procedures, (g) failure to perform a prestartup safety review, (h) failure to have an adequate contractor safety program, and (i) failure to investigate previous near misses and incidents and take corrective actions. This article describes this accident, the root causes, and the major plant deficiencies. The following expresses my opinion of the events that led to this explosion as testified to in open court. Others may have different opinions. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2010
581 _a2
773 0 _tProcess safety progress
_g29
942 _cARTICULO
100 1 _aHowell, Peter Paul
_946531
999 _c176150
_d176150