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

Little General Store September 2008
The CSB requested all SCGM audits from the Princeton and Beckley, West Virginia, service centers for
the 10 years preceding the incident. Ferrellgas provided SCGM audits from 2005 and 2006 but provided
no documentation of any customer installation audits.
2. Regional Technical Analyst Audit
At least once annually, regional technical analysts (known as operations managers prior to 2005) conduct
compliance and safety audits at Ferrellgas service centers in their respective regions. The audit is similar
to the SCGM quarterly audit in that the technical analyst examines delivery operations, administration,
plant operations, and customer installations, using a checklist to guide the audit and record the results.
The only apparent difference is that the technical analyst performs all four segments of the audit within
one to two days and the SCGM examines one segment per quarter.
5.2.3 Ferrellgas Inspection and Quality Review Program Analysis
At least six Ferrellgas delivery drivers and service technicians were in a position to identify and report the
incorrect placement of the tank behind Little General; none did. Although Ferrellgas training materials
discuss correct tank placement and list tank placement as an inspection criterion for which drivers and
technicians may remove tanks from service, the employees who filled and inspected the tank believed that
its location was approved. 35
The SCGM customer installation audits for the Beckley and Princeton offices were likely not conducted. 36
Had managers performed these audits, it is still possible that because of the sampling methods used they
35
All Ferrellgas drivers and technicians reported to the CSB that they had received training in accordance with
Ferrellgas procedures.
36
Ferrellgas was unable to provide any documentation of customer installation audits for the ten years preceding the
incident.
35