That time a 4-inch pipe almost took my hand off at the Baton Rouge refinery

I was working a turnaround at the Exxon plant in Baton Rouge back in March. We were pulling a bundle from a heat exchanger and some guy from the night crew left this 4-inch steam line pressurized. I grabbed it to swing it clear and the flange popped loose, shot steam right past my arm. Third degree burns on my forearm, spent 4 days in the burn unit. Now I always double check every goddamn line with my own gauge before I touch anything. I dont care if the foreman says it's bled down, I check it myself. How many of you have had a close call with a line you thought was dead?

2 comments

2 Comments

amy_coleman212d ago

Four DAYS in a burn unit from steam? That is ABSOLUTELY terrifying. I would have been screaming at that night crew for weeks.

miles2792d ago

Gotta admit, I used to be one of those people who thought steam burns were no big deal compared to fire. Like, how bad could hot water vapor really be, right? But reading about four days in a burn unit completely flipped my view. It's the way steam gets into your clothes and just keeps burning deep into your skin, way worse than a splash of boiling water. That kind of damage is no joke and I feel stupid for ever downplaying it. Has anyone here had a steam burn that was worse than they expected?