The St. Louis Praxair Distribution
site fills and distributes liquefied
and compressed gas cylinders,
rents welding machinery, and sells
welding supplies. At the St. Louis
facility, Praxair has about 30,000
compressed gas cylinders
containing oxygen, nitrogen,
propane, propylene, acetylene,
carbon dioxide, helium, and other
specialty gases onsite. The facility
employs about 70 and is located in
a commercial and residential area
near Lafayette Square.
800 feet, damaged property, and started fires in the community. The fire
could not be extinguished until most of the flammable gas cylinders were
expended.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) issues
this Safety Bulletin to focus attention on the propylene gas cylinder
hazards that contributed to the fire and explosions at the Praxair facility
and specific actions that propylene gas vendors can take to prevent
similar incidents, which include: