Explosion in Avonmouth (1 Viewer)

clint van damme

Well-Known Member
at least 4 dead.
Chemical tank exploded apparently. Hope there's no more casualties but it doesn't sound promising.
 

OffenhamSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
Seemingly not chemical-related. Was material from an anaerobic digestion tank (i.e. human waste), so likely build-up of methane etc. Something clearly went badly wrong, but fires in these things are not uncommon.
 

It’sabatch87

Well-Known Member
Being a local to this,Eyewitnesses on HTV west said the four guys were on top when the explosion happened poor souls no chance.
One person seriously injured too.
 

OffenhamSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
I'd be interested to know what they were doing up there. Clearly some type of maintenance (as one of them was an external contractor) - soldering something close to a methane build-up, maybe? Obvs that is just speculation, but spontaneous combustion is a more remote possibility.
The HSE will be looking at the risk assessment for what they were doing fairly carefully, i'd imagine.

Very sad. No-one should come to work and not go home in this day and age.
 

BackRoomRummermill

Well-Known Member
My guess they opened a hatch or access point to quickly and massive pressure release , no fire etc just pure pressure . Like opening a bottle of shaken lemonade on a massive scale . There should have been a permit to work to follow the job method releasing pressure in a controlled manner .
 

It’sabatch87

Well-Known Member
Heard this afternoon off a mate who’s brother in law is OB and went there that they were using a grinder to cut metal on the top.
 

BackRoomRummermill

Well-Known Member
it only takes a small hole to go pop , again permit to work should have detailed the work area and identified the exact part of the plant to be worked on , and how the pressure released , purged to atmosphere prior to work commencing , it’s basic stuff I have been involved with this type of activity for 35 years
 

It’sabatch87

Well-Known Member
it only takes a small hole to go pop , again permit to work should have detailed the work area and identified the exact part of the plant to be worked on , and how the pressure released , purged to atmosphere prior to work commencing , it’s basic stuff I have been involved with this type of activity for 35 years
I’m sure Wessex water would have all this in place before work commenced?
I’m sure the HSE will leave no stone unturned in their investigation along with Wessex water.
RIP so sad.
 

OffenhamSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
Heard this afternoon off a mate who’s brother in law is OB and went there that they were using a grinder to cut metal on the top.
Yep that would do it.

I would think that an organisation the size of Wessex Water (with no prosecutions or improvement notices in the past 10 years) would have safe systems of work in place. The key thing to investigate is whether they were being followed, or whether the management exercised sufficient oversight of the contractor's activities.
 

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