Several reports released this week by safety authorities (including ABSA and the CSB) have highlighted “latent” welding failures in pressure systems:
- Amine Stress Corrosion Cracking: A report finalized this week documented a loss of containment in a piping system in which a circumferential weld developed a through-wall crack.
- Pressure Transmitter Leak: A separate industrial alert (April 10) noted a leak caused by a weld crack in a pressure transmitter. The root cause was determined to be “improper installation resulting in excess stresses at the weld,” reminding us that mechanical fit-up is as critical as the weld bead itself.
The recurring theme this week is the “Empty Tank” fallacy. As a safety professional, these incidents underscore that the most dangerous tanks are often the ones that are “empty” but not gas-free. For your upcoming safety materials, emphasizing the difference between visual cleanliness and atmospheric safety in welding procedures (per API 2015/2016) could prevent exactly the type of tragedy seen in the Plateau State explosion.