OSH 305 Hazardous Materials
Week 2 Assignment 1 (W2 A1)
Haz Material Incident Summary
(100 points)
W4 A1:
Using the article provided you are to complete the form below in full detail. More information is better than less. Your comments are based on synthesizing the information from the article AND the reading assignment concerning matter and properties of haz materials. Demonstrate your understanding of the major topics found from the weekly reading materials in relation to the incident provided. (100 points)
Section 1. (30 points)
(a)
Companies Nature and Scope.
(b)
Article/Research Information
(15 points)
(c)
Summary of the incident (15 points)
Little General Store in Ghent, West Virginia.
Normal operating General Store that serves basic food. An existing propane tank was positioned directly next to the building, and the new one was positioned further away. The technician that came to do the transfer was untrained on the process and what to do in the event of a release. A faulty connection created a release that eventually created an explosive mixture within the store. An untrained propane technician was moving propane from an existing tank right next to the general store to a tank
further away. In the process, the tank leaked propane. As a result, the propane vapor filled within the store and formed an explosive mixture with the air overtime. When ignited, the mixture exploded and leveled the general store and ended up deadly. Section 2: (40 points total)
(a)
How the Hazardous Material Caused the incident. Hint: Review the SDS phycial provided
for propane
(b)
Article Information
(10 points)
(C) Your understanding/comments:
Be sure to list any physical properties
which permitted this to happen. (30 points)
The vapor from propane can create explosive mixtures with
air. The lower explosive limit of propane is 1.8%, not taking a lot in relation to the store to make an explosive mix. The placement of the existing tank allowed a direct path of propane into the general store.
Propane is an extremely flammable gas with a very low LEL. This makes it easy for the mixture inside of the store to become explosive. Since the leak was right beside the building, it allowed the propane to be funneled into the building. Propane also does not need a warm
temperature to ignite, making it easily ignitable if in an explosive mix.
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