Flammable Liquids

As seen in the video below, a drum is clearly labeled FLAMMABLE with its red placard suspended over a plastic IBC (i.e., tote).  The Orange County Fire Investigation Unit determined that “static electricity caused a flammable liquid to ignite” inside the cosmetic manufacturing facility on November 20, 2017. The cause was ruled as an accident.  The explosion…...

This year the OH Fire code is undergoing revisions to bring it up to the 2015 IFC requirements.  In this process, there is a comment period in which anyone with interest can make comments on the proposed revisions or ask questions.  One such question was asked about the revisions to 5704.2.7.3.2. Vent Line Flame Arresters…...

On February 2, 2011, Employees #1 and #2 were working for a petroleum and petroleum product company. Employee #1 was on top of a transport tanker into which the vice-president of the firm was transferring #1 diesel fuel, mixing it with about 1,000 gallons (3,785 liters) of #2 diesel fuel. Employee #2 was on the…...

At 3:11 p.m. on August 26, 2015, Employee #1, who had worked with the company for three months as a forklift operator/ repacking, was working alone in the repacking area making a transfer of flammable liquid acetone from an elevated 793-gallon stainless steel intermediate bulk container (tote) to a 350-gallon stainless steel tote on the…...

The transfer of Class IA liquids from polyethylene drums and containers may be safety accomplished and is deemed to comply with the intent of the standards at 29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(ii) and (h)(7)(i)(b) when: A polyethylene drum is equipped with an approved metallic suction pump and draw tube for taking liquid through the top of the…...

OSHA does not have any provisions that require the emergency relief devices on PORTABLE TANKS to discharge to the outside of buildings. However, if portable tanks are part of a PSM-covered process, at a minimum, the employer would be required to IDENTIFY, EVALUATE, AND CONTROL [§1910.119(e)(1)] the hazard of discharging flammable and combustible materials through…...

OSHA bases their position on which section of 1910.106 would be applicable; if the plant is an industrial (covered under 1910.106 (e)) or a processing plant (covered under 1910.106(h)).  If the operation is an incidental activity covered by §1910.106(e)(2), paragraph §1910.106(e)(2)(iv)(d) allows transfer of flammable or combustible liquids into vessels, containers, and portable tanks within…...

OSHA’s says No; 1910.106(e)(2)(iii) does NOT require the exclusive use of fresh air for ventilation purposes.  OSHA states that 1910.106(e)(2)(iii) is a performance requirement and does NOT explicitly require the introduction of fresh air to meet the performance requirements of the OSHA standard. OSHA, under §1910.106(e)(2)(iii), expects employers to provide adequate ventilation to maintain concentrations…...

One of the top questions we get when working with clients whose primary business is storing, handling, and processing flammable liquids is… How many flammable storage cabinets can we have in the same area? This answer used to be easy, but these days – not so much.  Back in the day, NFPA 30 (2000 Edition)…...

In 2011 someone wrote to OSHA and specifically asked for clarification on the use of the words “or” and “nor” in the paragraph Design, Construction, and Capacity of Storage Cabinets-Maximum Capacity, 1910.106(d)(3)(i), which states: “Not more than 60 gallons of Class I or Class II liquids, nor more than 120 gallons of Class III liquids…...