Flammable Liquids

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…...

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…...

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,…...

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…...