CSB - BP America Refinery Explosion, 23 March 2005

At approximately 1:20 p.m. on March 23, 2005, a series of explosions occurred at the BP Texas City refinery during the restarting of a hydrocarbon isomerization unit. Fifteen workers were killed and 180 others were injured. Many of the victims were in or around work trailers located near an atmospheric vent stack. The explosions occurred when a distillation tower flooded with hydrocarbons and was overpressurized, causing a geyser-like release from the vent stack.

Duiding score:

Duiding:

Lesson over: - aanwezigheid van mensen nabij installaties in (tijdelijke) porto-cabins - risico van open vent systement

Doelgroep(en):

• HSE managers
• Operatie managers
• Onderwijsgevers
• Site managers
• Toezichthouders

Risicothema:

• Monitoring and Learning - Leren van Incidenten