PEROXIDE DRUM EXPLOSION AND FIRE

A fifty-five gallon steel drum of a liquid organic peroxide pressurize d and ruptured in the mix room of a manufacturing plant. The head of t he drum blew off and the ejected material ignited. The resulting fire was extinguished by the building sprinkler system and operating person nel. Although there were no injuries, the fire caused significant dama ge in the mix room. The investigation of this incident, its likely cau se, and the corrective actions will be discussed.