Packaging Corporation of America Hot Work Explosion

Accident Description

Accident: Packaging Corporation of America Hot Work Explosion

Location: Location: Deridder, LA

Accident Occurred On: 02/08/2017 | Final Report Released On: 04/24/2018

Accident Type: Hot Work - Explosion and Fire

Investigation Status: The CSB's final investigation report was released on April 24, 2018.

On February 8, 2017, three contractors were fatally injured and seven contractors sustained injuries in an explosion at the Packaging Corporation of America facility in DeRidder, LA. The fatally injured contractors were conducting hot work activities near a tank which contained a flammable atmosphere and ultimately exploded.

Recommendations

Packaging Corporation of America
2017-03-I-LA-1
Apply the CSB safety guidance to PCA pulp and paper mills that produce NCG and operate NCG systems, which includes all foul condensate tanks. For these NCG systems:

Apply effective process safety management elements using good practice guidance, such as CCPS Guidelines for Risk Based Process Safety, and Guidelines for Implementing Process Safety Management;

Consider further expanding process safety management program boundaries beyond the minimum legal requirements to provide heightened coverage of process safety hazards;

Apply NFPA 69, Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems, to provide effective explosion prevention;

Where explosions cannot be prevented in accordance with NFPA 69, apply NFPA 68, Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting, to provide explosion protection;

Ensure safety instrumented systems (safety interlocks) achieve desired risk reduction by applying the life-cycle approach provided in ISA-84, Functional Safety: Safety Instrumented Systems for the Process Industry Sector;

Apply TIP 0416-09, Collection and burning of concentrated noncondensible gases: regulations, design and operation, for effective NCG system design and operation;

Provide workers with periodic training to ensure they have an understanding of all process safety hazards applicable to areas of their responsibility and job tasks, including the safety conditions needed to permit hot work.
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

Packaging Corporation of America Hot Work Explosion

Accident Description

Final Reports

Recommendations

Related Video

Uncovered Hazards: Explosion at the DeRidder Pulp and Paper Mill

Statistics

Related News

Related Documents