Barrier analysis

Propane Investigation

Part 1: Events and Causal Factors Chart

event	Causal factor
The explosion of the propane tank	There are many causal factors associated with the explosion of the propane tank. Firstly, the tank location was not identified as a hazard during the audit program and Ferrell gas inspection. For more than ten years, the tank remained against the building. Secondly, the junior technician was not well trained on the incident he was working on. Furthermore, such a case should not be handled solely, so the junior technician was not supposed to work alone.
Death of employees	According to the report, ten people died, including the emergency responders. The causal factor is that the emergency responders were not well trained in evacuation response in case of an explosion.
Entry of propane to the general store	The causal factor for the entry of propane to the store was small openings in the roof overhang. Had the gaps been repaired, then there would be no leakage into the general store
fire	Ignition started shortly after the explosion

Part 2: potential causal factors

There are several causal factors to the events that occurred on the day of the explosion. A defect in the propane tank's withdrawal valve led to the liquid propane's leakage. After the leakage of the liquid propane, the employees, the emergency responders, and the service technicians did not evacuate the store immediately, leading to casualties.

Lack of enough training for the junior technician led to the spilling of the liquid propane since he could not detect the defect on the valve—lack of supervision and teamwork in the store. The technician was servicing the tank alone without supervision. The firefighters in West Virginia are supposed to be trained frequently, but the Ghent volunteer captain had not trained for years on hazardous response (Willacy et al., 2007).

Delay in transporting the propane to transport of the propane tank to the newly developed tank was also a causal factor in the explosion. Placing the tank, which carried 500 gallons of propane, next to a building also contributed to releasing the liquid propane to the store (Willacy et al., 2007).

CSB's report versus the causal factors

The CSB's (chemical safety and hazard investigation board) findings were similar to the causal factors though there are some key issues they did not capture in their report. The CSB's report does not indicate that the firefighters' Ghent volunteer captain had not trained for years on matters concerning response to a hazardous emergency. The report did not suggest that the junior technician was not supervised and working alone on the day of the explosion. The CSB does not suggest that the tank had a valve defect which caused led to a malfunction.

More analysis is needed on this issue of a propane explosion to fill the gaps. Research should be done to indicate the fire source that led to casualties and deaths. More analysis should be done to determine the required training for the junior technicians and how they should respond to such emergencies.

References

Willacy, S. K., Phylaktou, H. N., Andrews, G. E., & Ferrara, G. (2007). Stratified propane–air explosions in a duct vented geometry: Effect of concentration, ignition and injection position.  Process Safety and Environmental Protection,  85(2), 153-161.