US Chemical Safety Board Publishes Safety Video on Watson Grinding ExplosionUS Chemical Safety Board Publishes Safety Video on Watson Grinding Explosion
The January 2020 explosion at Watson Grinding killed two workers and a nearby resident, and destroyed homes in NW Houston, TX.
The new safety video by the CSB, called “No Detection: Explosion at Watson Grinding,” includes an animation of the events leading to the incident, and commentary from CSB Chairperson Steve Owens and Investigator-In-Charge Benjamin Schrader.
Watson Grinding specialized in machining and grinding services as well as applying high-performance coatings — particularly High Velocity Oxygen Fuel, or HVOF, coating. The process of HVOF coating involved propylene, an extremely flammable hydrocarbon gas. The CSB found that sometime overnight prior to the incident, a hose disconnected from its fitting inside a booth used for the coating process, releasing flammable propylene that accumulated inside the coating building. By the time employees arrived at the facility early on the morning of January 24,2020, an explosive concentration of propylene had formed inside the building. When one of the employees entered the building and turned on the lights, the flammable vapor ignited, triggering the explosion.
Less than one month after the explosion, Watson Grinding filed for bankruptcy. A lengthy legal battle ensued afterward, with more than 100 lawyers joining the lawsuit with 2,200+ total claimants, homeowners near the facility, who received injures and had damage to their homes. Local station KHO11 reported at the time that the settlement includes a $52 million insurance payout from Watson Grinding and Watson Valves and a greater undisclosed amount from several other companies.
The CSB safety video covers two key safety issues that contributed to the incident: process safety management and emergency preparedness. The video also highlights a safety recommendation made by the CSB to the Compressed Gas Association.
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