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.”