Used pressure vessels - No certification 1

[MJCronin]

To all,

An informative and useful pressure vessel accident study is now available at

http://www.csb.com.

The study concerns the pressure vessel/systems failure last year at the DD Wiliamson plant in Louisville, Kentucky. One man was killed due to a variety of process safety failures.

One of the "root causes" of the fatality is lack of ASME certification for vessels that are transported between facilities, over state lines.

I suggest that anyone involved in pressure protection, process systems design of tanks and/or vessels take time to download and read the accident report.

http://www.csb.com

Please let us know what you think.....

MJC

 

[Montemayor]

MJCronin:

I went to the indicated site but was unable to find a lead on the mentioned accident or to launch a successful "search" for it. This is not a very friendly webpage; it seems to be tailored to a specific application that I can't figure out. Maybe senility has crept in already.

Can you give us some additional help here?

Thanks

Art Montemayor
Spring, TX

 

[metengr]

MJCronin;
Sorry, I was not able to locate this report on the web site in your post. Am I missing a hyperlink somewhere or brain dead?

 

[zdas04]

I probably did all the same searches that Art and metengr did, with the same results. This sounds like a case study that we've been looking for in this "non-code" state for some time.

David

 

[unclesyd]

Here it is

http://www.csb.gov/completed_investigations/info.cfm?ID=36

 

[metengr]

MJCronin;
Very interesting and informative. Since I am a member of the National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) main commitee, I will forward this to our secretary.

 

[Montemayor]

Thanks Uncle Syd! The search was worth it; this looks like a very serious and thorough investigation. It should leave us with some key learnings.

On the somber side, bear in mind that this was a candy coloring factory. This is not supposed to be as hazardous as all the chemical plants we frequent and work in!

Kudos to MJ Cronin. Good, timely job in reporting this information. Thanks.

Art Montemayor
Spring, TX

 

[MJCronin]

To all,

Sorry about the incomplete link, I hope everyone found the report.

I believe that the lesson to be learned here is that, without any real legal "teeth", any Process Safety Management Program is doomed to failure. "Grandfathered" pressure vessels cross state lines, safety valves are removed or shut off and eventually people die.

Like in many process facilities, things usually get worse and worse until there is an accident.

Recommendations, suggestions and accident "findings" are all important, however it is only large monetary fines, or the threat of plant shutdown that makes management rear up on hind legs and take notice.......


My opinion only

MJC