CSB investigator Johnnie Banks briefs the Kanawha Valley media.
U.S. Chemical Safety Board investigators just revealed would could turn out to be a major finding in their probe of the death of DuPont Belle plant worker Carl “Danny” Fish (left).
CSB lead investigator Johnnie Banks said the hose that sprayed phosgene onto Fish showed signs of “fraying” and “wear.” During a briefing at a Charleston hotel, Banks told the Kanawha Valley media:
We intend to closely examine this hose as we more forward.
We’ve previously reported that the CSB was likely to focus on what it called a “braided steel hose” that was used by DuPont to transfer phosgene from one-ton cylinders to a production unit. That story pointed out that another Kanawha Valley chemical company that uses phosgene, Bayer CropScience, utilizes only solid steel piping for transfers of the chemical.
Banks described the hose as an 18-inch-long quarter-inch hose, with woven stainless steel on the outside and Teflon inside. It was damaged badly enough that investigators could see its Teflon lining through a small hole, Banks told me after the press conference.
By the time CSB investigators got to the plant on Tuesday, DuPont had already removed the hose from the unit where the fatal accident occurred. Banks said it is now secured and the CSB is not worried that its value as evidence was compromised when it was moved.
The revelation that CSB investigators found the hose to be not in the best of shape was the big news to come out of today’s media briefing by board investigators.
Banks said the board planned to have the hose tested, and would also be examining DuPont’s maintenance program, to determine how long this particular hose was in use, what its life was supposed to be, and whether DuPont was replacing such hoses on an appropriate schedule:
We’ll get a sense of what should be and what actually was.
Here’s a short video of some comments Banks made to a smaller group of media after the formal press conference:
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A “fraying” and “worn” hose??…
To transfer deadly phosgene, used in gas warfare in World War I to kill tens of thousands?…the tiniest amount of which can be fatal?
Really now, how much money did DuPont Management save, and we’re speculating here, by (a) deferring replacement, or (b) deferring inspections, or (c) buying a cheap brand of hose, whose manufacturer may have supplied a piece of hose deficient in quality or failing to meet specifications?
Doesn’t sound like SAFETY was Job #1, does it?
…funfundverizig..
In the articles covering the incident at the Dupont Belle Plant, the Charleston Gazette reported that Dupont receives their phosgene in 2000 lb containers.
I was shocked when I read this.
Phosgene is a very toxic material – it has a threshold ilmit value of 0.1 part per million. It was used in WWI as a chemical weapon (trench warfare). It has a molecular weight of 98 (air is 29) so it is heavier than air and any phosgene leak would stay close to the ground.
If you assume the Kanawha Valley is 20 miles long, 0.5 miles wide and 500 ft deep (estimated elevation of ridges along the valley) a 2000 lb leak of phosgene would result in concentration of 0.2 ppm – more than twice the toxity limit!
It makes no sense to me that we have regulations where an individual cannot carry a tube of toothpaste onto an airplane as it represents a security threat to the other 50-200 passengers yet it is perfectlly legal for a company to ship 2000 lbs of a chemcial weapon near my home, my daughter’s school and through one of business interstate corridors in the eastern U.S. If the shipping container or a valve fails or vehicle has an accident this would place a lot of folks at risk of serious injury or death.
The Chemical Safety Board needs to taking a hard look at how and why this material is transported to the DuPont plant.
Why aren’t there regulations prohibiting the shipment of such a toxic material?
What about the security threat this represents if this material were hijacked or intentionally made to leak?
Is security provided for these shipments? At the manufacturing location? At Dupont’s Belle Plant?
Where is the phosghene being manufactured? How is it shipped – truck? rail? barge? What other cities or highways does this impact / put at risk?
Why is this material being shipped at all?
Most chemical companies who handle highly toxic materials produce them on site and consume them immediately so they don’t have to transport or store the material to minimize risk/hazard to the public and their employees. Why isn’t Dupont doing this?
The Gazette article stated DuPont had planned to build an on-site phosgene plant in the past as they expected shipment of phosgene would be prohibited by Federal regulations – as it should be! – why didn’t they build this plant and produce the phosgene necessary on-site?
It seems that would be the responsible approach by any company that put safety/health/environment of it’s workers and neighbors above profit.
The shipment of phosgene through the Kanawha Valley – or anywhere else in the United States needs to be stopped – it is simply too dangerous – both from the risk of accident or an intentional act of terrorism.
[...] badly enough that investigators could see its Teflon lining through a small hole”. From: CSB: DuPont phosgene hose showed signs of ‘fraying’ (The Charleston Gazette, Jan 28th [...]
Yellow police tape around the phosgene tank and surrounding area may have been more appropriate if there is any evidence of criminal negligence!
If the potentially dangerous condition of this patently frayed and worn hose transferring highly toxic and poisonous phosgene was known by one or more individuals at Belle, and was knowingly left in place, not replaced, not purged of phosgene, such conduct might be construed as gross negligence bordering on criminal negligence.
Merely the speculative opinion of one concerned citizen…funfundvierzig..
“a 32-year DuPont employee”…….why didn’t this guy realize that he was using a damaged hose? Individual responsibility has a big role in this…it’s a hazardous business and there is no room for complacency.
victimnomore,
DuPont and the CSB have both said that Mr. Fish was not using this hose at the time and was not even inspecting that particular unit. So your criticism of someone who can longer speak for himself is terribly misplaced.
Ken.
My wife works for Pioneer, which is a subsidiary of DuPont. DuPont, for the last 4 years, has been pushing safety at every corner. They have pushed and pushed and pushed for people to be safer, even going so far as to issue “life saving rules”, that include everything from electrical safety to wearing your seatbelt. The official policy is that if you break the rules you are supposed to be warned and then fired. (3 strikes, I think.) They have weekly safety meeting where EVERY DEPARTMENT is supposed to send a representative and discuss safety at the facility. So as terrible as this situation is, I think it’s unfair to say that the board of DuPont doesn’t care. They do care. They spend a lot of money on it. Something went wrong down at that plant, and it was probably high up the chain at that plant, but to day all of DuPont doesn’t care… well that’s just not fair.
I forgot to mention that another official policy is that management is responsible for and will be held accountable for safety. I would expect for heads up the chain at that facility, maybe even further, where warranted. I doubt the blame will fall on the victim. (I also wrote “but to day all of DuPont…” when I meant to type “but to say all of DuPont…” above.)
Hey, it doesnt matter anymore. it happened sadly to say. every company cuts corners to save money. it is just a matter of time before it happens again….
I hope the family sues dupont and the other workers get on the ball and report any and all deficiencies immediately. Obviously, with the multiple leaks at the plant, their have to be more. Does that not scare anyone? Maybe the CSB needs to check out Bayer and Dow too? What about the contractors, truck drivers, security guards? Their lives are not important? This could have happened to anyone at anytime.
[...] report from CSB investigators that the phosgene-containing hose was worn and frayed (here), and then the US EPA’s announcement that they are launching an investigation of the [...]
[...] Blogs @ The Charleston Gazette – » CSB: DuPont phosgene hose showed signs of ‘fraying’ blogs.wvgazette.com – view page – cached U.S. Chemical Safety Board investigators just revealed would could turn out to be a major finding in their probe of the death of DuPont Belle plant worker Carl “Danny” Fish (left). [...]
While victimnomore’s response may have been misplaced on the poor victim. His statement that “Individual responsibility has a big role in this” holds true for whoever was or had used the hose.
Investigators could see a “small hole” and inside was “Teflon lining”. What?? An obviously frayed and worn hose with a hole, containing phosgene at some point of pressurisaton, was being used to transfer this insidiously toxic poison about the Belle plant production area?
It’s common scientific knowledge that this vile chemical is extraordinarily toxic. Only 2 parts per million instantaneously puts human life and health at risk. And DuPont Management is running a plant using this falling-apart hose for phosgene around unsuspecting workers and plant neighbours?
How many other worn-out hoses and valves and flanges and pipings and pumps and monitors exist in the maze at this plant?
…funfundvierzig..
Doesn’t it stand to reason that if the hose leaked and sprayed Mr. Fish that would mean it has a hole in it and thus you might be able to see the interior of it through the braid after the fact?
Say what you will, let me assure you that this ‘oversight’ is not an isolated issue. Meetings and investigations don’t mean a thing, MONEY is the name of the game! Use a cheap piece of equipment here or there and save a buck or two, so be it.
Condolences to the Fish family.
[...] raised questions before about the phosgene hose that leaked, exposing Fish to the toxic gas that eventually killed him. And the EPA order has these [...]