A traffic accident around 4 p.m. involving a gasoline tanker truck and an SUV in Mobile, AL on 4/22/2018 led to a massive fire. Firefighters evacuated a two-block radius of homes and businesses. It took more than an hour before firefighters could extinguish the flames by spraying large amounts of water and foam to the…...
Flammable Liquids Tanker Truck Fire and Explosion Read More »
Since around 2003, the International Fire Code (IFC), section 5704 – Storage, has required that ALL above-ground storage tanks, regardless of capacity, be provided with an approved means or method of overfill prevention. In this article we will look at what the code prescribes as the flammable liquid tank’s safe upper limit and the requirement…...
Your new (since 2003) flammable liquid storage tank(s) and “over-fill protection” Read More »
You may have heard that low melting-point materials such as aluminum, copper or brass should not be used for flammable liquids and gases. This is due to the concern these materials may fail under fire conditions, so we have some minimum requirements to meet IF we choose to use these types of metals…… Membership Required You...
Flammable liquids piping and aluminum, copper and brass piping Read More »
If you follow the CSB investigations, you may remember an incident from years ago where a fire impacted a pipe rack and the supports that were treated for fire resistance withstood the fire and the ones not treated/protected failed, causing the collapse of the structure leading to a much larger fire which then impaled three…...
Flammable Liquid Piping, it’s supports and fire protection Read More »
Most know NFPA 30 and OSHA’s 1910.106 for managing flammable liquid hazards. I have often written about the International Fire Code and its value to those looking for additional measures to reduce risk. In this situation, it does not disappoint when it comes to “Bulk transfer and process transfer operations.”…… Membership Required You must be...
IFC and Bulk transfer and process transfer operations Read More »
OSHA specifically exempted “Oil or gas well drilling or servicing operations” (1910.119(a)(2)(ii)), which it is trying to rectify with a revision to the standard. However, the IFC and many states have had requirements specific to “well drilling and operating” as it relates to managing the hazards associated with flammable liquids…. Membership Required You must be...
OSHA may not cover “drilling operations” but the IFC does Read More »
SAFTENG Comment: I am not sure why OSHA chose to use the General Duty Clause (GDC) rather than cite 1910.307 This case involves an oil and gas well-servicing company after a fire at a worksite injured an employee, and OSHA conducted an inspection. OSHA issued a citation alleging a violation of the general duty clause…...
OSHRC, API, Well Servicing, Flammable Atmospheres and Distance Read More »
This National Safety Alert provides an update to National Safety Alert No. 5, Cell Phone Results in Fire, dated March 6, 2002, which addressed a flash fire on a platform in the Gulf of Mexico OCS. As detailed in National Safety Alert No. 5, a contract panel specialist was working on an open platform master…...
Cellular Phones and Other Risks in Classified Areas Read More »
In early 1999, a number of reports were circulated in the news media and on the Internet suggesting that cell phones could cause a fire or explosion if used at gas stations. Although the reports were speculative and unconfirmed, the issue gained impetus when warning labels began to appear at service stations. In response to…...
Investigation of the Potential for Wireless Phones to Cause Explosions at Gas Stations Read More »
Since 2014, two workers in B.C. have been seriously injured in flash fires linked to non-bonded fuel hoses (i.e., hoses that cannot dissipate static electricity). In the second incident, the worker’s injuries were fatal. This bulletin explains the hazards. We aim to ensure that everyone involved in the storage, transportation, delivery, and transfer of fuel…...
Non-Bonded fuel hoses create a fire and explosion hazards (WorkSafe) Read More »
OSHA has cited an Alabama automobile dealership for serious safety violations after three employees died and two were injured at its Jasper facility. OSHA initiated an investigation in response to a flash fire. Inspectors determined that the employees were using a flammable brake wash to scrub the service pit floor when the fire occurred. As…...
I have written about this hazard numerous times as it is the leading cause of flash fires within process vessels, but during a recent Combustible Dust project, I noticed that the 2017 edition of NFPA 654 has some new and specific requirements for this activity. I had always used NFPA 77 as my RAGAGEP for this activity,…...
NFPA 654 (2017) and powder addition(s) to flammable atmospheres Read More »
