• 30
  • June
    2010

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board recently issued a report detailing the danger of specific industrial practice using natural gas and saying that it may recommend that federal regulators ban the procedure. The procedure, known as a "gas blow," involves using natural gas at high pressure to clean pipes during installation. The procedure was in use during two recent industrial gas explosions in Connecticut and North Carolina that resulted in 10 deaths and nearly 100 injuries, including many severe burns.

According to the safety board, the procedure could be performed with safer or benign gases such as nitrogen or a common air mixture, rather than natural gas, which is explosive if it comes in contact with a source of ignition. If the board approves the recommendations, they will be sent to other groups such as the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Fire Protection Association for comment and potential rulemaking.

The North Carolina explosion occurred in June 2009 at the ConAgra Slim Jim factory in Garner, N.C. Four workers were killed in that explosion and more than 70 were injured, many of whom suffered severe burns and exposure to toxic chemicals. Officials determined the blast was the result of natural gas being purged indoors during the installation of a new water heater in the factory.

The Connecticut explosion occurred in February of this year and is still under investigation. What is known is that nearly 2 million cubic feet of natural gas was released in the process of cleaning pipes and was somehow ignited. The explosion killed six workers and injured more than 20 others.

In addition to their recommendations to OSHA, the safety board is also urging companies to avoid using natural gas for similar uses and instead look for alternatives that provide similar results without the risk of explosion and the endangering of employees.

Related Resources:

Safety board weighs response to Conn, NC blasts (Associated Press)