Phillips K-Resin Plant Explosion Kills One, Injures 71
The incident occurred in the facility's the K-Resin styrene-butadiene copolymer plant. Workers described the explosion as a huge fireball that flung flame and smoke into the air.
The company has closed the entire complex and put its polyethylene and polypropylene plants on standby mode pending an investigation. It expects to restart polyolefin production within the next few days.
A total of 32 Phillips employees and 39 contract employees were sent to area hospitals. As of last night, three were in critical condition and 16 had been released.
The explosion is the fourth incident to rock the Pasadena complex in less than one year.
On June 23, 1999, one month after Phillips boosted K-Resin capacity by 40%, to 370 million lb/yr, an explosion in one of four K-Resin reactors killed a pipe fitter and maintenance mechanic. After an investigation, OSHA fined Phillips $204,000 for 13 safety and health violations.
Two other explosions occurred in 1999. In April, a polypropylene railcar blew up. In August, a blast rocked Pasadena's polypropylene unit.
In April 1999, OSHA fined Phillips $166,000 after an inspection found the Pasadena facility had a history of leaky valves that could pose a fire hazard.
Pasadena's most deadly explosion, however, occurred in October 1989. An explosion at the facility's huge polyethylene plant killed 23 workers and injured 130 others. The explosion obliterated the entire unit, which was later rebuilt.
In addition to K-Resin, the Pasadena complex has capacity for 2.2 billion lb/yr of polyethylene, 790 million lb/yr of polypropylene, and 2.3 million lb/yr of neohexene.
K-Resin is a clear resin used to toughen medical components, shrink wrap, toys, drinking water bottles, candy wrap, food packaging, cups, and clothes hangers.
By Alan S. Brown