What began as a standard repair job ended in tragedy.
Three workers were tasked with fixing a leaking crude oil flow line that connected a production well to its tank battery, which is a typical task in the oil and gas industry. They dug a trench, removed a section of the pipe, and began preparing the exposed line for threading. But in a matter of seconds, a spark from an electric pipe threader ignited flammable vapors, setting off a flash fire that engulfed the trench.
Two workers were hospitalized with severe burns. One of them didn’t survive.
This incident is a reminder of just how fast things can go wrong when hazards are both underestimated and overlooked. It highlights the importance of job hazard analysis (JHA), proper equipment selection, atmospheric monitoring, and continuous safety training.