571:
229:
from ruptured lines in the plant were out of reach in the burning wreckage. No remotely operated fail-safe isolation valves existed in the combined plant/firefighting water system. In addition, the regular-service fire-water pumps were disabled by the fire which destroyed their electrical power cables. 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. 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
185:
63:
143:
151:
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126:
would have been open while the switch in the control room was in the "valve closed" position. After that, the valve was opened when it was expected to stay closed, and finally passed the reactor content into air. A vapor cloud formed and travelled rapidly through the polyethylene plant. 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
283:
1030:
275:
617:
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228:
water system at the HCC was part of the process water system. When the first explosion occurred, some fire hydrants were sheared off at ground level by the blast. The result was inadequate water pressure for firefighting. The shut-off valves which could have been used to prevent the loss of water
125:
During routine maintenance, isolation valves were closed and compressed air hoses that actuated them physically disconnected as a safety measure. The air connections for opening and closing this valve were identical, and had been improperly reversed when last re-connected. As a result, the valve
46:, and the resulting fires took 10 hours to bring under control, as efforts to battle the fire were hindered due to damaged water pipes for the fire hydrants from the blast. The initial explosion was found to have resulted from a release of extremely flammable process gasses used to produce
166:
employees 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 an additional business disruption loss estimated at $ 700 million. The two polyethylene production
98:
material used to make milk bottles and other containers. 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.
249:
Search and rescue efforts were delayed until the fire and heat subsided and all danger of further explosions had passed. These operations were difficult because of the extensive devastation in the HCC and the danger of structural collapse. The
171:
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. The initial explosion was equivalent to an earthquake registering 3.5 on the
949:
1327:
254:
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
446:
near 924 Jefferson Road, Pasadena, Texas was dedicated on the first anniversary of the disaster, and was declared by company officials to be open to the general public at all times.
54:
fined
Phillips Petroleum Company $ 5,666,200 and fined Fish Engineering and Construction, inc, the maintenance contractor, $ 729,600. The event killed 23 employees and injured 314.
899:
1362:
953:
529:
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."
209:
51:
1367:
506:
1357:
233:. 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
162:. A powerful and devastating explosion and fire ripped through the HCC, killing 23 people—all working at the facility—and injuring 314 others (185
663:"OSHA: Phillips 66 Company Houston Chemical Complex Explosion and Fire: A Report to the President, U.S. Dept. of Labor, Washington, DC (1990)"
134:
storage tank, then by the catastrophic failure of another polyethylene reactor, and finally by other explosions, probably about six in total.
991:
213:
200:
association (CIMA). Cooperating governmental agencies were the Texas Air
Control Board, the Harris County Pollution Control Board, the
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570:
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1135:
903:
710:
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1206:
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130:. Ten to fifteen minutes later, that was followed by the explosion of the 20,000 U.S. gal (76,000 L)
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31:
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Today, the facility continues to manufacture polyethylene. This complex employs 450 workers for the production of
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984:
547:
91:
47:
925:"Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC - Worldwide Operations (hotlink sequence: Polyethylene, Texas, Pasadena)"
1347:
1145:
300:, and official date of death (following recovery and identification of remains or eventual death from injuries)
286:
Granite memorial (close-up). A few of the names differ slightly from the official death records shown at left.
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1201:
1171:
459:
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62:
43:
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874:
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822:
158:
The incident started at approximately 1:05 PM local time on
October 23, 1989, at 1400 Jefferson Road,
30:
On 23 October 1989 at approximately 1:05 PM Central
Daylight Time, a series of explosions occurred at
1352:
1251:
977:
591:
263:
230:
66:
Aerial view of the
Phillips plant prior to the explosion, looking from the southwest to the northeast
39:
1155:
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630:
118:. More than 85,000 lb (39 t) of highly flammable gases were released through an open
1103:
796:
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362:
142:
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gases that occurred during regular maintenance operations on one of the plant's polyethylene
1059:
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205:
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111:
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485:
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and 9 serious violations with a combined total proposed penalty of $ 5,666,200 to
282:
348:
James
Deowens Hubbard, 45, Houston, 25 October 1989 (listed as James Hubbard Jr.)
266:. OSHA preserved evidence for evaluation regarding the cause of the catastrophe.
1054:
1044:
1000:
950:"Docket H054A, EX. 50-1-2-24, 24.0 Chromium Catalyst Users, page 24-5 (5 of 20)"
274:
1029:
900:"02/12/1991 - Investigation conducted by OSHA at the Houston Chemical Complex"
612:
496:
Proximity of high-occupancy structures (control rooms) to hazardous operations
1293:
1280:
849:"Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Deaths 1989 (Hernandez through Johnson)"
778:
750:
433:
420:
875:"Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Deaths 1989 (Stancil through Vardaman)"
131:
108:
823:"Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Deaths 1989 (Acosta through Berleth)"
542:, OSHA agreed to delete the willful characterization of the citations and
517:"At the conclusion of the investigation (April 19, 1990), OSHA issued 566
711:"Explosion and Fire at the Phillips Company - Houston Chemical Complex"
95:
969:
505:
Insufficient separation between the reactors and the control room for
50:, a plastic used for various consumer food container products. The US
1049:
569:
297:
281:
273:
262:
fire boats evacuated to safety over 100 trapped people across the
183:
149:
141:
119:
61:
973:
797:"Vital Records - Harris County, TX - Deaths 1989 (root folder)"
296:
Fatally wounded, listed by name, age, city of residence within
411:
John
Medrano, 30 October 1989 (listed as Juan Trejo-Medrano)
278:
Granite memorial (far) at 924 Jefferson Rd, Pasadena, Texas.
27:
1989 flammable gas explosion accident in
Pasadena, Texas, US
550:
procedures at HCC and the company's sister facilities at
488:
system not maintained in an adequate state of readiness.
773:. Pasadena, Texas: PCL Publishing Company. 1990-10-23.
745:. Pasadena, Texas: PCL Publishing Company. 1989-10-26.
594:, including 150 operations and maintenance personnel.
374:
Cipriano
Rodriguez Jr., 42, Pasadena, 27 October 1989
196:
fire brigade which was soon joined by members of the
1328:
Industrial fires and explosions in the United States
342:
Delbert Lynn Haskell, 43, Deer Park, 29 October 1989
188:
Aerial photo of complex as seen from north to south.
1215:
1184:
1164:
1123:
1116:
1091:
1075:
1068:
1037:
1007:
482:
Inadequate ventilation systems for nearby buildings
371:
Gerald Galen Pipher, 39, Deer Park, 30 October 1989
368:
Mary Kathryn O'Connor, 34, Houston, 29 October 1989
597:The facility experienced additional fatalities in
546:agreed to pay a $ 4 million fine and to institute
476:Lack of combustible gas detection and alarm system
387:Nathan Gene Warner, 30, Deer Park, 24 October 1989
384:Lino Ralph Trujillo, 39, Pasadena, 29 October 1989
358:James Arthur Nichols, 40, Baytown, 27 October 1989
107:The accident resulted from a release of extremely
345:Scotty Dale Hawkins, 32, Houston, 28 October 1989
339:Mark Lloyd Greeson, 30, Pasadena, 28 October 1989
464:Inadequate standard operating procedures (SOPs)
790:
788:
741:"Death toll now 5, missing Phillips workers".
326:, 7 November 1989 (listed as Eloy Albert Arce)
985:
538:As a result of a settlement between OSHA and
210:Occupational Safety and Health Administration
52:Occupational Safety and Health Administration
8:
764:
762:
760:
492:Additional factors found by OSHA included:
397:Fatally wounded and official dates of death
336:Eloy Gonzales, 36, Houston, 1 November 1989
176:and threw debris as far away as six miles.
1120:
1072:
992:
978:
970:
42:. The initial blast registered 3.5 on the
192:The initial response was provided by the
1363:October 1989 events in the United States
470:Inadequate maintenance permitting system
305:Stephen Donald Huff, 21, 25 October 1989
705:
703:
701:
699:
697:
695:
693:
691:
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651:
499:Inadequate separation between buildings
657:
655:
408:William Scott Martin, 25 October 1989
146:Map of area affected by the explosion
7:
1258:
473:Inadequate lockout/tagout procedures
291:Phillips Petroleum Company employees
214:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1368:1989 disasters in the United States
405:Jose Lara Gonzalez, 23 October 1989
402:Juan Manuel Garcia, 30 October 1989
769:"Looking forward, thinking back".
513:Quoting from a key OSHA document:
34:Houston Chemical Complex (HCC) in
25:
873:Mahaffey, Chuck H. (2001-08-25).
847:Mahaffey, Chuck H. (2001-08-25).
821:Mahaffey, Chuck H. (2001-08-25).
795:Mahaffey, Chuck H. (2001-08-25).
454:OSHA's major findings included:
70:The HCC produced approximately 15
1358:Urban fires in the United States
1257:
1246:
1245:
1028:
615:
675:from the original on 2008-02-27
574:Site of Phillips explosions of
202:Federal Aviation Administration
1207:2001 Humber Refinery explosion
329:James Henry Campbell Jr., 30,
308:Ruben Quilantan Alamillo, 35,
241:foam trucks and fire brigade.
1:
198:Channel Industries Mutual Aid
1151:Rodeo San Francisco Refinery
641:List of industrial disasters
479:Presence of ignition sources
32:Phillips Petroleum Company's
361:Jesse Thomas Northrup, 43,
1384:
1228:Phillips Petroleum Process
879:Texas Department of Health
853:Texas Department of Health
827:Texas Department of Health
801:Texas Department of Health
771:The Daily Pasadena Citizen
743:The Daily Pasadena Citizen
586:(as photographed in 2008).
544:Phillips Petroleum Company
540:Phillips Petroleum Company
523:Phillips Petroleum Company
392:Fish Engineering employees
252:Phillips Petroleum Company
239:Phillips Petroleum Company
194:Phillips Petroleum Company
164:Phillips Petroleum Company
1333:Chemical plant explosions
1241:
1083:Chevron Phillips Chemical
1026:
548:process safety management
502:Crowded process equipment
467:Non-fail-safe block valve
377:Jesse Oscar Trevino, 33,
92:high-density polyethylene
48:high-density polyethylene
18:Phillips Disaster of 1989
1146:Rockies Express Pipeline
315:James Edward Allen, 38,
122:almost instantaneously.
1202:2000 Phillips explosion
1197:1999 Phillips explosion
1172:Immingham Power Station
460:process hazard analysis
434:29.733111°N 95.182528°W
1192:1989 Phillips disaster
1020:Phillips Petroleum Co.
587:
531:
415:A granite memorial at
322:Albert Eloy Arce, 34,
287:
279:
189:
155:
147:
67:
1294:29.72806°N 95.18139°W
573:
515:
439:29.733111; -95.182528
285:
277:
187:
153:
145:
90: t) per year of
65:
58:Prior to the disaster
1185:Industrial disasters
592:speciality chemicals
264:Houston Ship Channel
231:Houston Ship Channel
40:Houston Ship Channel
1338:Explosions in Texas
1299:29.72806; -95.18139
1290: /
1156:Wood River Refinery
1099:Tidewater Petroleum
1001:Phillips 66 Company
881:. USGenWeb Archives
855:. USGenWeb Archives
829:. USGenWeb Archives
803:. USGenWeb Archives
631:1990 ARCO explosion
430: /
1318:Explosions in 1989
588:
507:emergency shutdown
351:Richard Leos, 30,
288:
280:
270:List of casualties
190:
156:
148:
68:
1273:
1272:
1180:
1179:
1136:Billings Refinery
1112:
1111:
1104:Tosco Corporation
560:Woods Cross, Utah
381:, 30 October 1989
365:, 28 October 1989
355:, 29 October 1989
333:, 26 October 1989
319:, 2 November 1989
312:, 25 October 1989
245:Search and rescue
16:(Redirected from
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952:. Archived from
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927:. Archived from
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902:. Archived from
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716:. Archived from
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636:Chevron Phillips
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256:U.S. Coast Guard
235:fire departments
206:U.S. Coast Guard
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1348:Pasadena, Texas
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1233:Phillips, Texas
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1141:Humber Refinery
1131:Bayway Refinery
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486:Fire protection
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260:Port of Houston
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212:(OSHA) and the
182:
160:Pasadena, Texas
140:
105:
83:
81:
73:
71:
60:
36:Pasadena, Texas
28:
23:
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11:
5:
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1343:Fires in Texas
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1223:Phillips 66ers
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1216:Related topics
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566:Facility today
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1323:1989 in Texas
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988:
983:
981:
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956:on 2011-05-20
955:
951:
945:
942:
931:on 2008-02-14
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926:
920:
917:
906:on 2011-03-23
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723:on 2007-11-30
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556:Borger, Texas
553:
552:Sweeny, Texas
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44:Richter scale
41:
37:
33:
19:
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1250:
1191:
1069:Subsidiaries
1008:Predecessors
958:. Retrieved
954:the original
944:
933:. Retrieved
929:the original
919:
908:. Retrieved
904:the original
894:
883:. Retrieved
878:
868:
857:. Retrieved
852:
842:
831:. Retrieved
826:
816:
805:. Retrieved
800:
770:
742:
736:
725:. Retrieved
718:the original
677:. Retrieved
623:Texas portal
596:
589:
575:
537:
516:
512:
491:
453:
425:95°10′57.1″W
422:29°43′59.2″N
414:
248:
226:firefighting
223:
220:Firefighting
191:
157:
124:
106:
87:
77:
69:
29:
1353:Phillips 66
1297: /
1045:Phillips 66
509:procedures.
437: /
204:(FAA), the
38:, near the
1312:Categories
1285:95°10′53″W
1282:29°43′41″N
1117:Facilities
960:2008-02-22
935:2008-02-22
910:2007-12-06
885:2008-06-23
859:2008-06-23
833:2008-06-23
807:2008-06-23
727:2007-12-04
679:2007-12-04
647:References
363:Brookshire
237:, and the
138:Explosions
94:(HDPE), a
779:0896-3320
751:0896-3320
324:Deer Park
154:Site plan
132:isobutane
109:flammable
1252:Category
670:Archived
609:See also
525:and 181
458:Lack of
379:Pearland
353:La Porte
317:Pasadena
116:reactors
1264:Commons
1124:Current
1076:Current
527:willful
519:willful
331:Baytown
310:Houston
216:(EPA).
112:process
96:plastic
1165:Former
1092:Former
1050:Conoco
1038:Brands
777:
749:
558:; and
208:, the
169:plants
721:(PDF)
714:(PDF)
673:(PDF)
666:(PDF)
298:Texas
120:valve
103:Cause
775:ISSN
747:ISSN
603:2000
601:and
599:1999
584:2000
582:and
580:1999
576:1989
258:and
224:The
1055:Jet
128:TNT
1314::
1060:76
877:.
851:.
825:.
799:.
787:^
759:^
688:^
668:.
654:^
605:.
578:,
562:.
554:;
84:10
74:10
993:e
986:t
979:v
963:.
938:.
913:.
888:.
862:.
836:.
810:.
781:.
753:.
730:.
682:.
88:^
82:×
78:^
72:×
20:)
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