The U S. Chemical Safety Board has issued their final report on the Tesoro Refinery fire in Anacortes, Wash., in 2010. The CSB says the cause of the fire was HTHA, or high temperature hydrogen attack, on the tubes in the heat exchanger. This caused a rupture and an explosion and fire. The company, according to the report from the CSB,had a complacent attitude toward fires that had occurred previously at the facility.
From the Processing article: The Chemical Safety Board not only found fault with Tesoro and its lack of action to prevent the incident. The report also made a series of recommendations to regulators, noting that the there are no requirements for refiners to address HTHA. It urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Governor and State Legislature of the State of Washington to do more to protect communities and employees from chemical incidents.
One of the recommendations made by the board calls for the introduction of a safety oversight system similar to that implemented in the United Kingdom. British regulators require refineries to have the most up-to-date technology and implement rigid safety practices.
The board will vote on a final version of the report later this year.
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