explosion firegeezer on 21 Nov 2008 11:11 am
Rare Water Tank Explosion Injures 3
A CREW OF FOUR CONTRACT PAINTERS WERE WORKING ON A Giddings, Texas, water tower when an explosion occurred pitching three of them off the top of the structure. They were thrown to the ground about 40 ft. below leaving them critically injured, one with severe burns. The fourth painter was on the side ladder when it occurred and was not injured.
Officials believe that the men were either welding or grinding on the top of the tank, preparing it for a repainting when it exploded. It is not yet known just what it was that flashed or where the gasses were at the time. A police officer says that the workers heard some “rumbling” coming from inside the tank and were in the process of evacuating to the ladder when it blew.
Two STARflight helicopters transported the victims to Brackenridge Hospital where one underwent surgery and another was in ICU. A third, Orlando Olivia of Bryan Texas was transferred to the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for burns he received from the explosion.
KVUE-TV Austin has a video report:
Giddings is 55 miles east of Austin and city officials believe that the tank was filled with water at the time. The explosion did not appear to have damaged the tank in any way, but it has not yet been thoroughly inspected.
The Austin American-Statesman has a REPORT.
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3 Responses to “Rare Water Tank Explosion Injures 3”
on 21 Nov 2008 at 2:56 pm 1.Michael Falzon said …
Any idea what caused the explosion? We regularly use water to inert LPG tanks!
I had a similar case but luckily much smaller; we were welding on a sea water fire main. Apparently some H2S / methane had built up from organisms in the sea water while the pipe was isolated, but partly full.
on 21 Nov 2008 at 10:01 pm 2.firegeezer said …
Good question, Mike. I hope we find out when they come up with an answer. The clue that the painters heard the noise under them says that something had built up beneath the dome. And this contractor only works on tanks, so these guys are savvy to the hazards.
Firegeezer
on 06 Dec 2008 at 10:06 am 3.RoadDog said …
I hope they make the investigation results public. OSHA, I assume would investigate this type of accident.
I work on water tanks, too. Repairs to old existing welded seams will have to be performed inside of a water tank we are working on and this now concerns me. We have already done some repairs on the roof, but this new accident makes a person sit up and take notice, because if they had been inside.