Welding Spark Causes Deadly Explosion

Welding torch sparks and oil tanks don’t mix. Actually that’s not true. Under the right circumstances they can mix with tragic results.

That became evident when two oil storage tanks exploded, killing three workers in Raleigh, MS, recently. It was reported that four workers were welding a pipe on a tank when a spark apparently ignited vapors from two adjacent tanks that were supposed to be empty of petroleum, but were not.

Two of the three workers who died were under 25. The third was 53 years old. A fourth worker, 72, survived his injuries. The men were thrown several feet by the explosion. A piece of clothing from one of the workers was found in a tree across the road from the tanks.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board are looking into the fatalities to determine contributing factors.