Alert 09 – 34 Fire Starts From Falling Slag
WHAT HAPPENED:
A Permit to Work (PTW) had been completed and JSA reviewed. There was no fire blanket available so four (4) steel plates were used in an attempt to close the gap between the conductor pipe and the rotary table. A fire watch was stationed on each side of the pipe to spray water and cool the slag as the welders cut off the padeyes, but there was no fire watch in the moon pool area. Ten minutes after the job was completed, fire was spotted on the starboard moon pool walkway. Slag had fallen through the table and was deflected about 6 meters (18 feet) onto a pile of plastic cable guards left against the bulkhead. The plastic ignited but was quickly extinguished when the fire was discovered.