Loy Lange Box Company Pressure Vessel Explosion

Accident Description

Accident: Loy Lange Box Company Pressure Vessel Explosion

Location: Location: St. Louis , MO

Accident Occurred On: 04/03/2017 | Final Report Released On: 07/29/2022

Accident Type: Community Impact

Investigation Status: The CSB's final report was released at a public meeting on 7.29.2022.

A massive steam explosion caused a steel vessel weighing approximately 2,000 pounds to launch itself into the air. The initial explosion killed one worker and critically injured another. The vessel flew several hundred feet and landed on a nearby company, fatally injuring three members of the public.

Recommendations

Arise, Inc

2017-04-I-MO-7

Update company policies and/or procedures by including prescriptive elements in the boiler and pressure vessel repair and alteration inspection and acceptance process that would prevent the acceptance of a non-conforming repair or alteration.

Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Closed - Acceptable Action (C - AA) - The recipient has completed action on the recommendation. The action taken meets the objectives envisioned by the Board.

Recommendation Status Change Summary
Board of Aldermen, City of St. Louis, MO

2017-04-I-MO-4

Revise the City of St. Louis Mechanical Code to adopt a national consensus standard such as NBIC Part 2 to govern the requirements for inservice inspection of boilers and pressure vessels.

Status: Open - Unacceptable Response/No Response Received

Open - Unacceptable Response/No Response Received (O - UR) - Recipient responds by expressing disagreement with the need outlined in the recommendation. The Board believes, however, that there is enough supporting evidence to ask the recipient to reconsider.

Recommendation Status Change Summary

2017-04-I-MO-5

Revise the City of St. Louis Mechanical Code to require pressure vessel inspections be performed by a National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI) inservice (IS) commissioned inspector.

Status: Open - Unacceptable Response/No Response Received

Open - Unacceptable Response/No Response Received (O - UR) - Recipient responds by expressing disagreement with the need outlined in the recommendation. The Board believes, however, that there is enough supporting evidence to ask the recipient to reconsider.

Recommendation Status Change Summary
Loy Lange Box Company

2017-04-I-MO-1

Develop and implement a comprehensive safety management system. Include in that system process safety elements recommended in industry guidance publications, such as the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) publication Guidelines for Risk Based Process Safety.

Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternative Action

Closed - Acceptable Alternative Action (C - AAA)

Recommendation Status Change Summary

2017-04-I-MO-2

Engage a qualified third-party to conduct a comprehensive review or audit of Loy Lange’s regulatory compliance practices and current compliance status.

Status: Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response

Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response (O - ARE/AR) - The recipient has not submitted a substantive response, or the evaluation by CSB staff of a response is pending, or the Board has not yet acted on staff recommendation of status.

Recommendation Status Change Summary

2017-04-I-MO-3

Implement an electronic records and data management system that preserves all critical company records, safety policies and procedures, and operational data. Ensure that such records are stored and can be accessed remotely in the event of a catastrophic incident

Status: Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response

Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response (O - ARE/AR) - The recipient has not submitted a substantive response, or the evaluation by CSB staff of a response is pending, or the Board has not yet acted on staff recommendation of status.

Recommendation Status Change Summary
Mayor, City of St. Louis, MO

2017-04-I-MO-6

Distribute and communicate the findings of this report to all licensed stationary engineers and all registered boiler and pressure vessel owning/operating entities in the City of St. Louis.

Status: Open - Unacceptable Response/No Response Received

Open - Unacceptable Response/No Response Received (O - UR) - Recipient responds by expressing disagreement with the need outlined in the recommendation. The Board believes, however, that there is enough supporting evidence to ask the recipient to reconsider.

Recommendation Status Change Summary
National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI)

2017-04-I-MO-8

Update NB-263 Rules for Commissioned Inspectors to include prescriptive elements in the boiler and pressure vessel repair and alteration inspection and acceptance process that would prevent the acceptance of a non-conforming repair.

Status: Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response

Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response (O - ARE/AR) - The recipient has not submitted a substantive response, or the evaluation by CSB staff of a response is pending, or the Board has not yet acted on staff recommendation of status.

Recommendation Status Change Summary