US Chemical Safety Board blames Pemex for fatal 2024 accident

According to the 'U.S. Department of Homeland Security,' the lack of a standard identifier for idle equipment at Pemex Deer Park refinery in Texas led to a poison gas release that killed two workers. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board released a report on Monday.

The report stated that workers were preparing a de-inventory unit which was idled for future work on 10 October 2024, when they opened the?flange of a nearby pipe from an operating unit.

The gas released a total of 27,000 pounds, which killed a worker who had opened the flange. The gas drifted downstream and engulfed a worker, who was unable escape. The report said that he?also? died.

Un spokesperson for Pemex was not available to comment on the report.

The board concluded that PEMEX Deer Park did have written procedures for standardizing pipe markings for pipe cutting, but that there was no standard process for flange 'opening' and blind removal. This incident could have been avoided if PEMEX Deer Park had required standard markings on all flange opening activities.

The board stated that the concentration of hydrogen sulfide during the release at Deer Park refinery was at least 500 parts/million. Thirteen workers were taken to medical facilities. The Houston suburbs Pasadena & Deer 'Park issued shelter-in place orders during the release.

The report stated that since the release of the report, the Pemex refinery adopted a system to identify equipment which is ready for use.

(source: Reuters)