Fatality: Overpressure of an explosion-proof enclosure
- Safety Flash
- Published on 5 October 2017
- Generated on 21 October 2025
- IMCA SF 24/17
- 2 minute read
The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) has published an alert regarding an incident in which an engineer was fatally injured.
What happened?
The engineer was killed when he removed the cover on an explosion-proof enclosure, as part of a routine task. The threaded cover, measuring 35 cm across and weighing around 6 kg, was forcefully propelled from the enclosure as the engineer unscrewed it, inflicting fatal head injuries.
What went wrong? What were the causes?
- Pressure built up inside the enclosure from leaking sample gas or instrument air components.
- The enclosure was not equipped with an external indicator to indicate the pressure inside.
- There was no means to relieve internal pressure in the enclosure.
What lessons were learnt? What actions were taken?
IOGP identify the following lessons:
- Recognise the potential hazard of trapped pressure in explosion-proof electrical enclosures from all sources of energy entering the enclosure.
- Identify explosion-proof enclosures which are susceptible to trapped pressure scenarios and do not have pressure indication or pressure relief protection.
- Work with equipment manufacturers to develop a mitigation plan that addresses the trapped pressure situation while still maintaining the electrical certification of the identified enclosures.
The incident can be found on the IOGP website.
Members may also wish to review the following safety flashes; it will be seen that the sudden and unplanned release of stored pressure is a high potential incident and frequently leads to serious injury and fatalities.
Related safety flashes
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IMCA SF 05/13
4 April 2013
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IMCA SF 18/09
22 December 2009
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IMCA SF 08/03
3 July 2003
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