A natural gas explosion shut down rail traffic in Lakeland, Florida.
A bottling plant owned by the Whitlock Packaging Corporation in Lakeland, FL experienced a natural gas explosion on the morning of September 2nd. The explosion blew a 4000 gallon boiler tank through the wall of the structure and across the nearby railroad tracks. Natural gas is used to heat 3 boiler tanks that produce steam for use in the bottling process. At this particular plant, Whitlock bottled non-carbonated beverages and teas.
CSX was forced to shut down rail traffic when the 60,000 pound boiler tank landed across the tracks. Officials shut down power and gas to the plant immediately and noticed that a second boiler tank appeared to be damaged in the initial explosion. After the outside scene has been declared safe, a crane was brought in to remove the tank.
Crews will not be allowed to enter the facility to assess additional damage until structural engineers can determine if it is safe to enter. Once that happens, they can begin to discover what other damage occurred from this natural gas explosion. That damage is likely to be significant considering that it sent a 30 ton boiler tank through the exterior wall of the building.
Fortunately, none of the 90 employees working at the plant at the time were hurt. Neighbors heard the explosion and several cars passing by were hit by debris, but no injuries were reported.
What can we take away from this?
Whitlock uses an outside company to maintain this part of the facility. As this practice becomes more common in industrial settings, the people maintaining the machinery are in contact with and around it less and less. It’s the every day employee that passes by a machine 20 times a day that is more likely to notice an abnormality.
While it may not be your expertise, it is your responsibility to say something to a supervisor when you notice something isn’t right. That doesn’t just go for plants, that’s the rule of thumb on any jobsite. Fortunately, this natural gas explosion will only cost money to repair. Your speaking up might just save someone from serious injury or even spare their life if an accident is imminent where you work.
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