Probe Determines Human Error Caused Blast at Fla. Gas Depot

June 04--Human error caused last summer's blast and fire at the Blue Rhino depot in Tavares that injured seven workers, state investigators concluded in a report released Tuesday by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The accident investigation, conducted by inspectors with the department's Bureau of Liquefied Gas Inspections, does not say who is to blame, however, as it cites conflicting statements from the depot managers and hourly workers.

A spark from a forklift ignited a cloud of gas on the site about 10:30 p.m. on July 29, triggering a spectacular fire that propelled hundreds of 20-pound metal tanks into the air and injured seven workers, according to the state report.

Brandon Stewart, the depot's acting plant manager at the time of the blast, told investigators he was not aware that plant employees were venting propane containers into the air behind the facility -- a violation of the company's operating procedures.

But the practice of "bleeding" propane from tanks in the storage yard was not unusual, the report noted, citing statements of workers who were severely burned in the fire. Other workers, who were not injured, said they were not surprised to learn that tank valves were opened in the yard to drain the gas as that method would "make the work go quicker."

The company could face state fines and other administrative action, department spokeswoman Erin Gillispie said.

Blue Rhino, a division of Ferrellgas, repairs, refurbishes and refills propane cylinders commonly used by consumers to fuel barbecue grills, gas-fueled fire pits and other outdoor heaters and cooking appliances.

According to the report, leaking cylinders or containers that must be drained before they can be reconditioned are supposed to be moved from the storage yard to an "evacuation station" where the propane can be released into a sealed system.

The machine sometimes broke down.

The night of the blast, workers had manually emptied propane cylinders in the storage yard by opening screws on the tanks. Propane vapors were ignited when a forklift operator started up his machine, the report said.

The probe deemed the explosion an accident.

Blue Rhino also is contesting 26 workplace-safety violations and more than $70,000 in fines assessed by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the wake of the blast at the Lake County plant, which reopened in December.

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