Emergency Response

How much toluene does it take to make a room 40’X40’X8′ to achieve its LEL%?

My SDS list toluene’s lower explosive limit (LEL) as 1.2% by volume, often given as:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

AI is not the answer to all of our safety questions!

I was playing around with Google Gemini and wondered about its limitations and accuracy. One of the problems in my HAZMAT courses is showing just how small an amount of Cl2 it takes to achieve an IDLH concentration in a given space. So I asked it.. How many pounds of Chlorine Gas will it take…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Be careful of your data sources

The moral of this story, as we do in Emergency Response, is NEVER to rely on a single data source for critical safety information about the chemicals we work with. In ER, we are REQUIRED to use at least three (3) recognized data sources when developing our response plan and making decisions. SDSs can have…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

This time of year, the overfilling of LPG tanks catches up to the unsafe practice

Hazmat crews respond to propane tank leak in Suffolk Talk to anyone who deals with LPG, and they will tell you that we normally see an increase in leaking tanks this time of year. However, I believe we are seeing an increase in these events year after year. One speculation is that delivery businesses are…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Why knowing Vapor Pressure matters

Too many safety personnel are not sufficiently familiar with the critical role Vapor Pressure (VP) plays in managing hazardous materials. From our PPE Hazard Assessments, Respiratory Protection, to how we respond to these hazardous materials when there is a LOPC event involving them. But VP also plays a major role in how we DESIGN our…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

How do we define an IDLH atmosphere?

A couple of weeks ago, I had a poll in my FB Group asking: Is a personal single-gas detector necessary within our breathing zone when wearing an Air Purifying Respirator in a potential IDLH atmosphere? For example, responding to a leak alarm for an NH3 or Cl2 leak. And as usual, the group did NOT…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

PRCS Attendant Training… how far should we take it?

In our PSM/RMP and OSH audits, we always spend more time on the Life Safety Standards, such as PRCS, LOTO, LEO, Respiratory Protection, etc. One of the most common errors we find in these audits is the lack of training for the attendants. It’s not that they are not meeting 1910.146(i)(1) – 1910.146(i)(10) training obligations;…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

SAFE UPPER LEVEL matters (Overfilling LPG container)

Overfilled propane tank causes evacuations, road closures in Littleton Fire crews in Littleton responded to a propane leak on Pike Avenue on Friday. The Fire Department said a resident called after hearing a “pop” and a loud roaring sound from a propane tank. Officials confirmed the tank was venting and that gas could be smelled…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Explaining the catastrophic failure of the LPG Tanker in Chile (2 Videos)

FIRST: RIP and Prayers to the truck driver and three (3) citizens who lost their lives in this event. We wish a full and speedy recovery to the 17 that we seriously injured, five (5) of whom have life-threatening injuries. This week, we saw a catastrophic failure of an LPG tanker truck in Chile (see…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Panic Hardware for EXIT Doors

I recently participated in a LinkedIn discussion about “panic hardware” for EXIT doors from an NH3 Refrigeration mechanical room. The image shared (which the poster acknowledged fell short) was a push pad about the size of an adult’s hand. Here are the specifics for our (USA-based) panic hardware on EXIT doors:… Membership Required You must...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Line Break in Pit (PRCS) fatality (H2S/CO; Would Be Rescuer dies)

On May 29, 2024, at about 3:15 p.m., several pounds of hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide gas were released at a Sugar Cooperative. As a result of the release, one employee was fatally injured, and another employee was seriously injured due to inhalation of the gases. The facility’s investigation found that, at the time of…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Hazards of deluge foam systems and ignoring the pre-discharge alarm

At 1:30 p.m. on August 7, 2022, a 55-year-old production supervisor was working in his office when the deluge system pre-discharge alarm activated. Approximately 30 seconds after the audible alarm engaged, the foam generators activated and began dispensing 2.2% high-expansion foam. The employee attempted to exit his office to reach a safe point, but he…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
Scroll to Top