Little General Store Propane Explosion - US Chemical Safety and ...

Little General Store September 2008
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.......................................................................................................................... 1
KEY FINDINGS .......................................................................................................................................... 3
1.0 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Investigative Process ....................................................................................................................... 7
1.3 Little General Store, Inc. ................................................................................................................. 8
1.4 Little General Store Propane Suppliers ........................................................................................... 8
1.5 West Virginia Emergency Service Organizations........................................................................... 9
1.6 Professional and Industry Organizations....................................................................................... 12
2.0 INCIDENT DESCRIPTION ......................................................................................................... 13
2.1 Events Preceding January 30, 2007 Explosion.............................................................................. 13
2.2 Day of the Incident ........................................................................................................................ 14
2.3 Response to the Propane Release .................................................................................................. 17
3.0 PROPANE INCIDENT FREQUENCY ........................................................................................ 20
3.1 United States Hazardous Materials Incidents 2001 – 2006........................................................... 20
3.2 Recent Propane Incidents .............................................................................................................. 21
4.0 PROPANE SYSTEM FUNDAMENTALS .................................................................................. 22
4.1 Propane Properties......................................................................................................................... 22
4.2 System Features............................................................................................................................. 22
4.3 Propane Standards ......................................................................................................................... 24
4.4 Propane Emergency Guidance ......................................................................................................25
5.0 INCIDENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE ANALYSIS ....................................................... 27
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