Vent: That time a bypass valve almost got me fired in Baton Rouge

I was working on a 2000 gallon tank at the Exxon plant in Baton Rouge last spring. My foreman told me to use a specific threaded bypass valve for a pressure test, but I argued it was the wrong size for the flange. He insisted, so I put it in anyway. It blew at 150 psi, shot water across the whole bay, and we lost half a day cleaning up. Now I always check the prints myself before anyone talks me into a bad call. Anyone else have a foreman who pushes bad ideas?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_david1mo ago

You got a buddy who went through something similar? My friend Mike worked a turnaround in Texas City. Foreman told him to skip torquing a few bolts on a heat exchanger flange. Said it was fine, they were behind schedule. Mike said no but the foreman yelled at him. He did it anyway. Leaked hydrocarbon at startup. Almost cost him his job. Now he walks his own prints and won't take verbal orders no matter how loud the foreman gets.

wrenwilson1mo ago

Used to roll my eyes at guys who double checked everything on a job. Figured they were just slow or had something to prove. After hearing stories like Mike's I get why you'd rather be the guy who looks paranoid than the one explaining to management why a startup went sideways.