What caused the large explosions at central Florida
propane gas plant?
Monday July 29th 2013
The Morning after 5:00 AM, when I usually wake up, I
watched each TV Channel report the propane fire at the Blue Rhino facility in
Tavares, near Leesburg, north of Orlando, not real far from our home.
As we watched things unfold I said, "bet I and
most techs in the field know what happened."
After 33 1/2
years in the business, propane/oil service technician one gets a feel of the
product.
The spokesman said Ferrell gas is cooperating with the
investigation.
Propane in Central Florida Blue Rhino has nine of
these plants throughout the country.
The plants refurbish propane tanks for gas grills and
send them back out to stores.
The newest youngest worker is given one of the most
important job in the plant, with little or no training, why?
Because it is a dirty, mundane job and is always stuck
on the youngest or newest employee.
(this has not as yet come to light so time will tell,
one small stripped pipe thread)?
However, I also said that it was more than likely
started by a Forklift driver, why?
Because propane forklift's run hot and if there is a
gas leak!
If a job was done correctly, any new tanks and/or old
tanks coming into the company must be air tested before gas fillings.
Was this done?
All old tanks coming into this company, must have the
valves remover, discarded/replaced and the tank cleaned inside and out, pipe
cleaner and pipe tape of dope.
Was this done?
After tanks are completely cleaned OSHA, (Occupational
safety and Health Administration), should be called to inspect the job or at
the very least called to come at the air pressure checking before the tanks are
filled and ready for sale.
Was this done?
Moments after the explosion, a forklift worker
stumbled into the building?
Exploding 20-pound canisters of propane began raining
down around them during the series of explosions late Monday night.
Bright orange flames would grow as high as 200 feet,
fueled by the exploding canisters that shot through the air like fireworks.
Houses nearby shook, and residents awakened to the
sound of "boom after boom after boom." Williams said it appeared to
begin about 100 yards from the loading dock in an area where some of the
plant's 53,000 20-pound propane canisters are stored on plastic pallets.
The plant's two-dozen workers were preparing to go
home when the explosions started, said Williams, who works the third shift.
Based on what the forklift operator told him, the
explosion was likely caused by a "combination of human error and bad
practices, possibly.
I don't want to speculate any further, that's what the
forklift driver was telling me." Williams said the forklift driver told
him,
"I did what they told me to do, I did what they
told me to do, and then this happened."