On 8/9/21, the flex hose transferring chlorine to the furnace failed, and employees discovered the leak by observing a visible chlorine cloud. An exposed employee was hospitalized as a result of pulmonary edema.
Employee #1 was mixing an automobile cleaning solution, which required that several chemicals to be added to a mixing tank. He would first weigh out the appropriate amount of a chemical and then use a chemical transfer pump to move it into an empty drum until the desired amount (by weight) was obtained. This task
We have discussed the pros and cons of pressure testing/leak testing piping. Code requires the test to be Hydrostatic Test; but if there is a legitmate issue with doing a hydrostatic test, then we can use the pneumatic test method. But we MUST realize the catastrophic/fatal hazard of pneumatic testing. For example,
When teaching my HAZMAT and Process Safety courses, we always cover chemical properties @ atmospheric conditions, higher pressure, and under a vacuum. Most people who have never been trained in these properties simply think that water freezes at 32F and boils at 212F. THese properties are accurate when we are in standard atmospheric conditions. But
Supposedly, the liquid leak was from a failed gasket (as stated by an EPA official earlier this week). But now we have been told the gasket was on a 12” manway on the bottom of the tanker as shown below. The pictures were taken at the time of the release and appear to show what
Corrosion allowance is the extra thickness of metal added to a component to account for material loss from corrosion over its service life, ensuring it can withstand pressure and structural loads until the end of its designed life. It is calculated based on the predicted corrosion rate, operating conditions, and the equipment’s anticipated life, using
ASME PCC-3 guides the preparation and implementation of a risk-based inspection plan. Flaws identified during inspection plan implementation are then evaluated, when appropriate, using the procedures provided in API 579-1/ASME FFS-1, Fitness-for-Service. If it is determined that repairs are required, guidance on repair procedures is provided in ASME PCC-2, Repair of Pressure Equipment and Piping.
On January 30, 2025, Employee #1, 27, was working at a trailer truck wash business and had been subcontracted to clean out a trailer tank using a water hose. The business specialized in washing out livestock haulers. Employee #1 entered the tank to continue cleaning. A coworker noticed Employee #1 lying on his side at
At 8:15 a.m. on January 30, 2025, Employee #1, 51, was replacing burst panels on the bucket conveyor when a flash fire occurred as the top burst panel was removed. Employee #1 was struck by the flash fire and died from the injuries sustained by the flash fire. OSHA issued a 5(a)(1) citation for using
A fatal accident occurred in a laboratory in Australia, resulting in the death of a technician. A standard geology technique, which involved dissolving sedimentary rock with mineral acids (hydrochloric and hydrofluoric), was being undertaken in a fume hood. The technician involved was believed to be seated when he knocked over a small quantity (between 100
This debate seems never to die, and I keep adding more examples to make my point crystal clear… When pressure- and leak-testing piping, we are to use the Hydrostatic Method rather than the Pneumatic Method. ASME provides three (3) specific situations in which we can use Pneumatic Testing instead of Hydrostatic Testing. And these exceptions
A plant worker died following an exposure to hydrofluoric acid at a chemical plant in St. Gabriel. Two workers with burns were taken from the plant to a hospital where one of them died during surgery. company statement: (scrubbed by me)
