Fatal explosion at FL compressed gas facility draws state, OSHA attention

September 21st, 2016 by Dakota Software Staff Industry News

A facility in Cantonment, Florida, used to fulfill various aspects of compressed air and gas storage and distribution, faced a major tragedy in late August when an explosion claimed the life of an employee. The industrial plant, located near Pensacola, was the cite of an accident with serious consequences on August 28, according to local ABC affiliate WEAR. Florida's state Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations inspected the scene in the hours following the blast and issued a preliminary statement explaining the explosion was an accident and occurred at the facility's loading docks.

While there's more work to be done in determining the exact cause of the blast and if any deficiencies in terms of health and safety considerations created conditions where it was more likely to occur, investigators now have a cause from which they can make further determinations. The body of the employee was recovered somewhere between 50 and 75 feet from the site of the blast by officials responding to the scene. The significant distance the body was thrown and statements from investigators describing the area as resembling a war zone indicate the explosion was especially powerful.

OSHA investigates the scene
Along with the site visits made by local and state authorities, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration also sent inspectors to the plant in the days following the explosion. A separate article from WEAR noted OSHA officials came to the facility the day after the accident occurred. It will likely be some time before OSHA releases a statement on the issue, and it's too early to tell whether the accident involved health and safety violations that could result in OSHA fines. The quick response indicates OSHA placed a high priority on determining what happened at the plant, however.

The likely cause of the explosion
The Pensacola News Journal reported some of the specifics of the explosion have already been determined. The incident happened on the facility's loading docks, where tanks of compressed air and gas are regularly transported. The blast likely involved a large holding tank inside the facility as well as two smaller tanks filled with nitrous oxide, a chemical with various industrial and commercial applications well known for its use in dentists' offices as an anesthetic and calming agent. The gas can cause explosions under the right conditions, WEAR reported. The catalyst for the blast is unknown at this point. Officials believe the incident was accidental and, at least in a preliminary sense, found no evidence of anything that would indicate intentional actions or foul play.

The state fire and arson bureau turned the investigation over to the compressed gas company following its initial inspection and findings, although it will remain in an advisory role and manage some aspects of the effort now led by the organization. The business furnishes a variety of compressed gases for a number of different industries, a significant number of which are potentially hazardous under the right conditions.

The explosion was powerful enough to attract attention from local residents soon after it happened, and disrupted activities in the industrial park where the facility is based. As a result of the explosion, large, visible clouds of yellow gas were seen in the air above the facility. This attracted more attention from area residents, although both the plant operator and local officials said the gas wasn't a threat.

"At this time there are no off-site impacts and area residents do not need to take any precautionary measures," a statement from the company said, according to WEAR. "[Our] top priority is the safety of our associates, customers and the communities in which we operate."