Analysis of Texas City BP Refinery Explosion

Running head: ANALYSIS OF TEXAS CITY BP REFINERY EXPLOSION

ANALYSIS OF TEXAS CITY BP REFINERY EXPLOSION1
Analysis of Texas City BP Refinery Explosion
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

ANALYSIS OF TEXAS CITY BP REFINERY EXPLOSION2
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
1. Background to the Problem......................................................................................................3
2. Analyzing the Explosion at the Texas City BP Refinery using the Heinrich Domino
Accident Causation Model..............................................................................................................4
2.1. About the Heinrich Domino Accident Causation Model..................................................4
2.2. Step by Step Examination of the Texas City BP Refinery Explosion using the Heinrich
5 Factor Domino Accident Causation Model..............................................................................5
2.2.1. Social Environment.......................................................................................................5
2.2.2. Fault of the Person.........................................................................................................7
2.2.3. Unsafe Acts, Physical and Mechanical Hazards...........................................................8
2.2.4. Accident.......................................................................................................................10
2.2.5. Injury...........................................................................................................................11
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................12

ANALYSIS OF TEXAS CITY BP REFINERY EXPLOSION3
Introduction
The Texas City BP Refinery Explosion was an unfortunate incident that took place in the
year of 2005 as a result of a hydrocarbon vapor cloud being ignited and which consequently
burst, killing in the process as many as fifteen people and injuring around hundred and eighty
people. The refinery was also severely injured as a result of the explosion, especially the ISOM
isomerization process unit which constituted the main site of the explosion. Upon in depth
analysis it was found that the explosion that occurred at the Texas City BP Refinery was one that
had been triggered due to occupational safety negligence and ignorance. This report will talk
about the human errors and psychological factors that were responsible for the explosion, as well
as the plant, equipment, organizational, systemic and workplace design issues that had a crucial
role to play in triggering the incident (Abilio et al. 2017). The report makes use of an appropriate
accident causation model, namely a simple linear model of accident causation known as
Heinrich’s Domino Theory, in order to appraise the particular situation.
1. Background to the Problem
On the 23rd of March in the year of 2005, an explosion occurred at the Texas City BP
Refinery, as a consequence of which fifteen people lost their lives and close to two hundred
people were severely injured in the accident. The cause of the accident it was believed was due
to the explosion of hydrocarbon vapors, which are heavier than air and which combusted easily
as they came into contact with the source of ignition, which in this event happened to be the
running of a vehicle engine (Yemen et al. 2017). The BP Refinery in Texas City also witnessed
massive destruction and decay with regard to the plant infrastructure with much of the refinery