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West Virginia propane explosion 5 years on
US
On January 30th 2007 an incident at a convenience store involving propane gas claimed the lives of emergency respondents and propane technicians.
In a speech made by Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso, he stated, "I am pleased to report today satisfactory progress in the adoption of a number of important CSB recommendations made in our final report of September 2008, aimed at improving training requirements for propane technicians, and at improving emergency response actions by on-scene technicians and 911 operators. The recommendations have largely been adopted and will result in lives saved".
The CSB report found from the incident revealed that, a junior propane service technician was preparing to transfer propane, unsupervised, to a new tank from an old tank located near an outside wall of the store – a location that violated state and federal regulations. The technician removed a plug from the liquid withdrawal valve on the old tank, but the valve evidently malfunctioned, causing an uncontrollable release of propane. Propane entered the store through the restroom ventilation system. The technician had only 45 days of limited on-the-job training with his supervisor.
In addition to the latest steps being taken by the agency, the Board had recommended that the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials develop a guide card for propane emergencies to assist 911 operators.
The chairman concluded that, "We issued twelve recommendations to a total of nine recipients and most have resulted in what the Board determined to be “Acceptable” action, or are being held as “Open Acceptable” because they are on the brink of completion".
The CBS safety video entitled half an hour to tragedy can be found here
