Poor Job Planning Could Have Resulted in a Welding Disaster
Posted by proforma on April 6, 2010 | No Comments
In light of the recent catastrophic event at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, WA, it’s important to review all safety procedures with all personnel. This narrowly avoided incident serves as yet another warning to follow proper Permit to Work (PTW) procedures.
The job involved welding of the tank and piping of a rig accumulator supply tank. The welder was unaware that the tank had not been purged nor cleaned, and the lid was closed and secured. A passing rig site senior mechanic spotted the welder and realized the explosive atmosphere that existed. He immediately called a stop to the operation.
The situation was compounded by the fact that no pre-job safety check off list had been completed. There was not a well defined fire watch, as the designated person was involved in other duties at the time and no replacement identified. A fire extinguisher or pressurized water hose was not within the working vicinity as required by policy and the Permit to Work procedure. And although a PTW document had been issued, the appropriate personnel were not involved. The document had been incorrectly filled out and many details were not followed as required.
Tags:accident, PTW, welding, Workplace Safety
Filed Under: Workplace Safety
