By posting, you agree to be identified by your IP address. Terry Simpson, a 16-year Phillips employee who returned to work on crutches after suffering a knee injury in the accident, says he and some … After that, the valve was opened when it was expected to stay closed, and finally passed the reactor content into air. A massive propane leak occurred on 25-Jun-2008 in a utility easement just outside plant property. [12][13] Appendix O contains Press Releases issued by Phillips 66 from October 23, 1989, to November 03, 1989. The initial blast in a polyethylene unit registered a 3.0 on the Richter scale at seismographs at Rice University. In addition to the loss of life and injuries, the explosion affected all facilities within the complex, causing $715.5 million worth of damage plus an additional business disruption loss estimated at $700 million. Oct. 23, 1989: 22 missing assumed dead in plant blast EXPLOSION: OCT. 23, 1989 "Death toll now 5, missing Phillips workers". However, industry's pursuit of safe process design and operation started long before the explosion in 1989. No remotely-operated fail-safe isolation valves existed in the combined plant/fire-fighting water system. The consequences of the explosions resulted in 23 fatalities and between 130 – 300 people were inj… The Phillips disaster was a devastating series of explosions and fire on October 23, 1989, originating at the Phillips Petroleum Company's Houston Chemical Complex (HCC) facility near the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, Texas, United States. OSHA preserved evidence for evaluation regarding the cause of the catastrophe. [2], Today, the facility continues to manufacture high-density polyethylene (HDPE), as well as K-Resin SBC. A powerful and devastating explosion and fire ripped through the HCC, killing 23 persons—all working at the facility—and injuring 314 other (185 Phillips Petroleum Company employees and 129 contract employees). [2], The initial response was provided by the Phillips Petroleum Company fire brigade which was soon joined by members of the Channel Industries Mutual Aid association (CIMA). On October 23, 1989, the Phillips 66 Petroleum Chemical Plant near Pasadena, Texas, then producing approximately 1.5 billion of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic each year, suffered a massive series of explosions. 23 employees were killed and 314 injured. 1989, Phillips Petroleum chemical plant explosion and fire, Pasadena, Texas (October 23, 1989) [electronic resource] / investigated by Jack Yates Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Data Center [Emmitsburg, Md.] There were … These operations were difficult because of the extensive devastation in the HCC and the danger of structural collapse on the search and rescue team. Salina Journal Kansas 1989-10-25. The Houston Chemical Complex (HCC) facility employed 905 company employees and approximately 600 daily contract employees, who were engaged primarily in regular maintenance activities and new plant construction. [2], All search and rescue operations were coordinated by the Harris County (Texas) Medical Examiner and County Coroner. OSHA preserved evidence for evaluation regarding the cause of the catastrophe. [10] This complex employs 750 workers for the production of specialty chemicals, including 150 operations and maintenance personnel. The U.S. Coast Guard and Port of Houston fire boats evacuated to safety over 100 trapped people across the Houston Ship Channel. The first responders was the fire department, and the ambulances that went as The initial blast registered 3.5 on the Richter Scale, and the conflagration took 10 hours to bring under control. At about 1300 hours on October 23, 1989, the volunteer Chief of the Pasadena, Texas Fire Department, J.S. The Phillips Disaster of 1989 refers to a devastating series of explosions and fire on October 23, 1989 at Phillips' Houston Chemical Complex (HCC) near the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, Texas that left 23 employees dead and 314 injured.Map of Area Affected by the Explosion. At the conclusion of the investigation (April 19, 1990), OSHA issued 566 Willful … Fire-fighting water was brought in by hoses laid to remote sources: settling ponds, a cooling tower, a water main at a neighboring plant, and even the Houston Ship Channel. [2], The firefighting water system at the HCC was part of the process water system. These operations were difficult because of the extensive devastation in the HCC and the danger of structural collapse. This massive gas cloud was ignited within less than two min. Due to the significance and extent of damage, both physical and personal, caused by the explosion and fire on October 23, 1989, this section is included in the report to serve as a summary of the events that occurred. The U.S. Coast Guard and City of Houston fire boats evacuated to safety over 100 trapped people across the Houston Ship Channel. USFA Overview: “During the course of operations at the Phillips Petroleum Houston Chemical Complex in Pasadena, Texas, on October 23, 1989, an explosion and ensuing fire occurred which resulted in 23 known dead and one missing. The two polyethylene production plants nearest the source of the blast were destroyed, and in the HCC administration building nearly 0.5 mile away, windows were shattered and bricks ripped out. They had sought $200 million. [1], The incident started at approximately 1:00 PM local time on October 23, 1989, at 1400 Jefferson Road, Pasadena, Texas 77506. [1] Ten to fifteen minutes later, that was followed by the explosion of the 20,000-U.S.-gallon (76,000 L) isobutane storage tank, then by the catastrophic failure of another polyethylene reactor, and finally by other explosions, probably about six in total. Goyer, was at his place Additional factors found by OSHA included: Proximity of high-occupancy structures (control rooms) to hazardous operations; inadequate separation between buildings; crowded process equipment; insufficient separation between the reactors and the control room for emergency shutdown procedures. The explosion and fires at the Houston Chemical Complex in Pasadena, Texas, in 1989 were a worst- case scenario for Phillips Petroleum Co. A massive and devastating explosion and fire ripped through the Phillips 66 Company's Houston Chemical Complex (HCC), killing 23 persons—all working at the facility—and injuring 314 others (185 Phillips 66 employees and 129 contract employees). [2], The fire-fighting water system at the HCC was part of the process water system. The incident started at approximately 1:00 PM local time on October 23, 1989, at 1400 Jefferson Road, Pasadena, Texas 77506. After an explosion and fire on October 23, 1989, OSHA initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the accident that killed 23 workers and injured over 130 others at the Phillips 66 Company's petrochemical plant, located at Pasadena, Texas. Upload media [1], The initial response was provided by the Phillips 66 Company fire brigade which was soon joined by members of the Channel Industries Mutual Aid association (CIMA). Following this initial explosion there was a series of further explosions and fires. Phillips employees fatally wounded, listed by name, age, city of residence within Texas, Fish Engineering employees fatally wounded, Phillips employees fatally wounded, listed by name, age, city of residence within. The explosions killed 23 employees and injured 314. [10] This complex employs 450 workers for the production of specialty chemicals, including 150 operations and maintenance personnel.[11]. The shut-off valves which could have been used to prevent the loss of water from ruptured lines in the plant were out of reach in the burning wreckage. [2], Search and rescue efforts were delayed until the fire and heat subsided and all danger of further explosions had passed. of Labor, Washington, DC (1990)", http://ncsp.tamu.edu/reports/phillips/first%20part.pdf, "Explosion and Fire at the Phillips Company - Houston Chemical Complex", http://www.mpri.lsu.edu/workshop/SACHE%20Text.pdf, "Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Deaths 1989 (root folder)", http://files.usgwarchives.org/tx/harris/vitals/deaths/1989/, "Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Deaths 1989 (Acosta through Berleth)", http://files.usgwarchives.org/tx/harris/vitals/deaths/1989/harrd89a.txt, "Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Deaths 1989 (Hernandez through Johnson)", http://files.usgwarchives.org/tx/harris/vitals/deaths/1989/harrd89g.txt, "Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Deaths 1989 (Stancil through Vardaman)", http://files.usgwarchives.org/tx/harris/vitals/deaths/1989/harrd89n.txt, "02/12/1991 - Investigation conducted by OSHA at the Houston Chemical Complex", "Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC - Worldwide Operations (hotlink sequence: Polyethylene, Texas, Pasadena)", http://www.cpchem.com/enu/plants_facilities.asp, "Docket H054A, EX. of Labor, Washington, DC (1990)", "Explosion and Fire at the Phillips Company - Houston Chemical Complex", "Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Deaths 1989 (root folder)", "Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Deaths 1989 (Acosta through Berleth)", "Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Deaths 1989 (Hernandez through Johnson)", "Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Deaths 1989 (Stancil through Vardaman)", "02/12/1991 - Investigation conducted by OSHA at the Houston Chemical Complex", "Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC - Worldwide Operations (hotlink sequence: Polyethylene, Texas, Pasadena)", "Docket H054A, EX. The HCC produced approximately 15,000,000,000 pounds (6,800,000 t) per year of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a plastic material used to make milk bottles and other containers. The Phillips Disaster refers to a devastating series of explosions and fire on October 23, 1989 near the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, Texas, USA. A massive and devastating explosion and fire ripped through the Phillips 66 Company's Houston Chemical Complex (HCC), killing 23 persons—all working at the facility—and injuring 314 others (185 Phillips 66 employees and 129 contract employees). During the course of operations at the Phillips Petroleum Houston Chemical Complex in Pasadena, Texas, on October 23, 1989, an explosion and ensuing fire occurred which resulted in 23 known dead and one missing. Cooperating governmental agencies were the Texas Air Control Board, the Harris County Pollution Control Board, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U.S. Coast Guard, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Site of Phillips explosions of 1989, 1999 and 2000 (as photographed in 2008). The initial blast in a polyethylene unit registered a 3.0 on the Richter scale at seismographs at Rice University. Some 23 employees were killed and 314 were injured. Many of the dead were operators in … Yes ", As a result of a settlement between OSHA and Phillips Petroleum Company, OSHA agreed to delete the willful characterization of the citations and Phillips Petroleum Company agreed to pay a $4 million fine and to institute process safety management procedures at HCC and the company's sister facilities at Sweeny, Texas; Borger, Texas; and Woods Cross, Utah. The initial blast registered 3.5 on the Richter Scale, and the conflagration took 10 hours to bring under control. In November, a Houston jury awarded 15 other victims between $2,500 to $110,000 in damages. [2], Today, the facility continues to manufacture polyethylene. 300 Menschen wurden verletzt. Here’s a video about the accident that was one of the accidents that lead to the development of the OSHA Process Safety Management Standard. In addition, more than 100 other people were injured in varying degrees. More than 85,000 pounds of highly flammable gases were released through an open valve. Of the three backup diesel-operated fire pumps, one had been taken out of service, and one ran out of fuel in about an hour. |name= Articles with dead external links from October 2010, Articles with invalid date parameter in template, Accidental explosion disasters in the United States, Environmental disasters in the United States, File:Apdx F1 - Aerial view before explosion.jpg, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, File:Apdx F2 - Aerial photo after explosion.jpg, File:Chevron Phillips - Pasadena TX - Feb 2008 - 080207aHCC01e.jpg, "OSHA: Phillips 66 Company Houston Chemical Complex Explosion and Fire: A Report to the President, U.S. Dept. The facility experienced additional fatalities in 1999 and 2000. The facility produced approximately 1.5 billion pounds per year of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a plastic material used to make milk bottles and other containers. List of Fatalities (From WIKIPEDIA) Phillips Employees: STEPHEN DONALD HUFF, 21. Insufficient separation between the reactors and the control room for emergency shutdown procedures. [2], A granite memorial (at 29°43′59.4″N 95°10′57″W / 29.733167°N 95.1825°W / 29.733167; -95.1825{{#coordinates:29|43|59.4|N|95|10|57|W| The explosion and fires at the Houston Chemical Complex in Pasadena, Texas, in 1989 were a worst- case scenario for Phillips Petroleum Co. The fire was brought under control within about 10 hours as a result of the combined efforts of fire brigades from other nearby companies, local fire departments, and the Phillips 66 foam trucks and fire brigade. It is southeast of Houston, along a shipping channel. The incident started at approximately 1:05 PM local time on October 23, 1989, at 1400 Jefferson Road, Pasadena, Texas. Thursday marks the 25th anniversary of the explosion and fire at the Phillips Plant in Pasadena. "I had just taken him lunch," De La Vergne said. Phillips Disaster Of 1989. It was a series of explosions that rocked the plant near the Houston Ship Channel in 1989. The Phillips Petroleum Company requested, and the FAA approved and implemented, a one-mile no-fly zone around the plant to prevent engine vibration and/or helicopter rotor downwash from dislodging any of the wreckage. The initial explosion was equivalent to an earthquake registering 3.5 on the Richter scale and threw debris as far away as six miles. In addition to the loss of life and injuries, the explosion affected all facilities within the complex, ca… The Phillips Disaster of 1989 refers to a devastating series of explosions and fire on October 23, 1989 at Phillips' Houston Chemical Complex (HCC) near the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, Texas that left 23 employees dead and 314 injured.Map of Area Affected by the Explosion. The initial blast registered 3.5 on the Richter Scale, and the conflagration took 10 hours to bring under control. 30 Years Ago The Phillips Petroleum Explosion In Pasadena And Robocop 2 Films Houston. The Phillips Disaster refers to a devastating series of explosions and fire on October 23, 1989 near the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, Texas, USA. THE FIRE AND EXPLOSION The Phillips Petroleum chemical plant lies in an unincorporated corner of Harris County, Texas, near Pasadena. Did you find what you were looking for? The Phillips Disaster refers to a devastating series of explosions and fire on October 23, 1989 near the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, Texas, USA. A powerful and devastating explosion and fire ripped through the HCC, killing 23 persons—all working at the facility—and injuring 314 other (185 Phillips Petroleum Companyemployees and 129 contract employees). In addition to the loss of life and injuries, the explosion affected all facilities within the complex, causing $715.5 million worth of damage plus … The shut-off valves which could have been used to prevent the loss of water from ruptured lines in the plant were out of reach in the burning wreckage. Cooperating governmental agencies were the Texas Air Control Board, the Harris County Pollution Control Board, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U.S. Coast Guard, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). On October 23, 1989, a massive explosion demolished the Phillips 66 Company polyethylene plant in Pasadena, TX, (a Houston suburb) when more than 85,000 lbm of flammable material was instantaneously released to the atmosphere. The accident resulted from a release of extremely flammable process gases that occurred during regular maintenance operations on one of the plant's polyethylene reactors. Firefighting water was brought in by hoses laid to remote sources: settling ponds, a cooling tower, a water main at a neighboring plant, and even the Houston Ship Channel. [2], The incident started at approximately 1:05 PM local time on October 23, 1989, at 1400 Jefferson Road, Pasadena, Texas. [14]. The Phillips 66 Company requested, and the FAA approved and implemented, a 1-mile no-fly zone around the plant to prevent engine vibration and/or helicopter rotor downwash from dislodging any of the wreckage. The two polyethylene production plants nearest the source of the blast were destroyed, and in the HCC administration building nearly 0.5 mile away, windows were shattered and bricks ripped out. A few of the names differ slightly from the official death records shown at left. Federal investigators found the Oct. 23, 1989, explosion occurred when gases escaped from an open valve, forming a huge vapor cloud that ignited. "I can only keep on hoping," she said, collapsing into tears. Pasadena Tx Explosion At Phillips Plant Oct 1989 Gendisasters Genealogy In Tragedy Disasters Fires Floods. The Phillips complex was the site of an Oct. 23, 1989, series of explosions and fires in a polyethylene reactor that killed 23 and injured 130 in … In addition to the loss of life and injuries, the explosion affected all facilities within the complex, ca… Approximately 1500 people worked at the facility, including 905 company employees and approximately 600 daily contract employees, who were engaged primarily in regular maintenance activities and new plant construction.[1]. As a result, the valve would have been open while the switch in the control room was in the "valve closed" position. When the first explosion occurred, some fire hydrants were sheared off at ground level by the blast. Phillips Disaster of 1989 1989 flammable gas explosion accident. More than 85,000 pounds (39 t) of highly flammable gases were released through an open valve almost instantaneously. In the wake of the Oct. 23 explosion and fire at the Phillips 66 polyethylene complex in Pasadena, Tex., the Occupational Safety & Health Administration is considering several approaches to tighten regulation over chemical plants. [2] Search and rescue efforts were delayed until the fire and heat subsided and all danger of further explosions had passed. [2], As a result of a settlement between OSHA and Phillips 66 Company, OSHA agreed to delete the willful characterization of the citations and Phillips 66 agreed to pay a $4 million fine and to institute process safety management procedures at HCC and the company's sister facilities at Sweeny, Texas; Borger, Texas; and Woods Cross, Utah. [4], Additional factors found by OSHA included:[2], "At the conclusion of the investigation (April 19, 1990), OSHA issued 566 willful and 9 serious violations with a combined total proposed penalty of $5,666,200 to Phillips Petroleum Company and 181 willful and 12 serious violations with a combined total proposed penalty of $729,600 to Fish Engineering and Construction, Inc., a maintenance contractor on the site. A vapor cloud formed and traveled rapidly through the polyethylene plant. The initial explosion was equivalent to 2.4 tons of TNT exploding, damaging the homes of residents within an eight-mile radius of the refinery. In addition, the regular-service fire-water pumps were disabled by the fire which destroyed their electrical power cables. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, "OSHA: Phillips 66 Company Houston Chemical Complex Explosion and Fire: A Report to the President, U.S. Dept. At approximately 1:00 p.m. on the 23rd October 1989 Phillips’ 66 chemical complex at Pasadena, near Houston (USA) experienced a chemical release on the polyethylene plant. A vapor cloud formed and travelled rapidly through the polyethylene plant. Steve Ueckert/Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 49. Site of the Phillips Disaster explosion (Oct 23, 1989) (Google Maps). | Within 90 to 120 seconds, the vapor cloud came into contact with an ignition source and exploded with the force of 2.4 tons of TNT. On October 23, 1989, the Phillips 66 Petroleum Chemical Plant near Pasadena, Texas, then producing approximately 1.5 billion of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic each year, suffered a massive series of explosions. Phillips made no admission of negligence in the settlements, Lea said. The air connections for opening and closing this valve were identical, and had been improperly reversed when last re-connected. Aerial photo of complex as seen from north to south. Please post helpful feedback. In addition, more … The incident started at approximately 1:00 PM local time on October 23, 1989, at 1400 Jefferson Road, Pasadena, Texas 77506. The initial explosion was equivalent to an earthquake registering 3.5 on the Richter Scale and threw debris as far away as six miles. The fire was brought under control within about 10 hours as a result of the combined efforts of fire brigades from other nearby companies, local fire departments, and the Phillips Petroleum Company foam trucks and fire brigade. No remotely operated fail-safe isolation valves existed in the combined plant/firefighting water system. Within 90 to 120 seconds, the vapor cloud came into contact with an ignition source and exploded with the force of 2.4 tons of TNT. 3 MR. HALEY TURNED IN: NOVEMBER 14 Compare and Contrast The people involved were the employees at the time of the explosion. The result was inadequate water pressure for firefighting. Remembering an Accident: 23 killed in Phillips Pasadena Explosion On October 23, 1989, the Phillips Chemical Plant exploded killing 23 people. The fire and explosion on October 23, 1989, at the Phillips 66 Company's Houston Chemical Complex resulted from a massive release of process gas, a mixture of four flammable chemicals--isobutane, ethylene, hexene and hydrogen--which traveled to an unidentified ignition source and exploded with the force of 2.4 tons of TNT . In addition, the regular-service fire-water pumps were disabled by the fire which destroyed their electrical power cables. The Phillips Disaster refers to a devastating series of explosions and fire on October 23, 1989 near the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, Texas, USA. Granite memorial (far) at 924 Jefferson Rd, Pasadena, TX 77506. 50-1-2-24, 24.0 Chromium Catalyst Users, page 24-5 (5 of 20)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phillips_disaster_of_1989&oldid=995999044, Industrial fires and explosions in the United States, Articles with dead external links from October 2010, Wikipedia introduction cleanup from October 2016, Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from October 2016, All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Eloy Gonzales, 36, Houston, 1 November 1989, Mark Lloyd Greeson, 30, Pasadena, 28 October 1989, Delbert Lynn Haskell, 43, Deer Park, 29 October 1989, Scotty Dale Hawkins, 32, Houston, 28 October 1989, James Deowens Hubbard, 45, Houston, 25 October 1989 (listed, James Arthur Nichols, 40, Baytown, 27 October 1989, Mary Kathryn O'Connor, 34, Houston, 29 October 1989, Gerald Galen Pipher, 39, Deer Park, 30 October 1989, Cipriano Rodriguez, Jr., 42, Pasadena, 27 October 1989, Lino Ralph Trujillo, 39, Pasadena, 29 October 1989, Nathan Gene Warner, 30, Deer Park, 24 October 1989, Inadequate standard operating procedures (SOPs), Lack of combustible gas detection and alarm system, Inadequate ventilation systems for nearby buildings, Proximity of high-occupancy structures (control rooms) to hazardous operations. 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