Accident: Partridge Raleigh Oilfield Explosion and Fire
Location: Location: Raleigh, MS
Accident Occurred On: 06/05/2006 | Final Report Released On: 06/12/2007
Accident Type: Hot Work - Explosion and Fire
Investigation Status: The CSB's final report was issued at a news conference in Jackson, Mississippi, on June 12, 2007.
Three contractors died and one contractor suffered serious injuries in an explosion and fire at the Partridge-Raleigh Oilfield. The contractors, all employees of Stringer Oilfield Services, were standing on top of a series of four oil production tanks. They were preparing to weld piping to the tanks when a welding tool likely ignited flammable vapors from the tanks.
Establish a program to identify and refer to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) potentially unsafe health and safety conditions observed during board field inspections of well sites and drilling operations. Ensure that the program includes: -Written procedures that define how the referrals will be implemented; and, -Training of field inspectors so that they are able to recognize the potentially unsafe health and safety conditions that should be referred to OSHA.
Implement a Local Emphasis Program (LEP) to inspect companies in the oil and gas production and extraction sector.
Establish written health and safety performance standards and performance metrics such as those found in Recommended Practice for Occupational Safety for Onshore Oil and Gas Production, API RP-74.
Develop and implement written procedures to ensure safe work practices during hot work, tank cleaning, and work at elevated locations.