Friday, February 3, 2012

CSB Assesses Progress 5 Years After Deadly Propane Explosion


CSB takes stock of the outcomes of its recommendations upon the 5-year anniversary of a propane explosion at a Ghent, WV, convenience store that killed four people and injured six. The incident occurred as an inexperienced worker attempted to transfer propane from a tank located against an outside wall of the store.

CSB reports that several of its recommendations, which were published in the board’s final report in September 2008, were largely adopted. Those recommendations aimed at improving training requirements for propane technicians, and emergency response actions by on-scene technicians and 9-1-1 operators.

“It’s particularly gratifying to note that our recommendation to NFPA resulted in inssuing of a temporary standard providing guidance for personnel who work with liquefied petroleum gas,” says CSB Chair Rafael Moure-Eraso. “I encourage NFPA to permanently adopt the training and testing requirements for individuals who work with propane, helping reduce the loss of life and injury among propane workers and potential dangers to members of the public.”