An investigation into an explosion last year at a fertilizer plant has been completed by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the report reads like a classic flammable liquid explosion – one small problem, Triclopyr 3 is not a flammable liquid! Triclopyr 3 has a flash point of 141°F and in today’s GHS world that…...
Anatomy of a flammable liquid unloading explosion, just one problem Read More »
A major hazard involved with the transfer of non-conductive flammable liquids is the build-up of static electricity with the potential for discharge resulting in fire and subsequent loss of primary containment, an LOPC event. Certain non-polar liquids can be charged (e.g., while flowing through pipes and hoses). Detectable and hazardous charges must be expected if…...
Transferring non-conductive flammable liquids Read More »
This month we saw CAL-OSHA issue citations to a roofing company after two of its employees were literally blown off an asphalt tanker and ten (10) feet to the ground. Both workers sustained serious burns to large portions of their bodies. But after hearing all the comments about “safety is just common sense” I wonder…...
Did you know… asphalt kettles can and often will have a flammable atmosphere Read More »
It appears OSHA is getting serious about 1910.106(e)(2)(ii)(b)… 1910.106(e)(2)(ii) “Containers.” flammable liquids shall be stored in tanks or closed containers. 1910.106(e)(2)(ii)(a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c) of this subdivision, all storage shall comply with paragraph (d) (3) or (4) of this section. 1910.106(e)(2)(ii)(b) The quantity of liquid that may be located outside of an inside storage…...
Flammable Liquids OUTSIDE of storage room and/or cabinet Read More »
Back on March 4, 2016 a contractor/truck driver was transferring “diesel fuel” of some type from a storage tank to his truck when there was a flash fire. He received 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 50% of his body and has since passed away from his injuries. When I saw this incident in my…...
Diesel Fuel Flash Fire? Read More »
CLICK HERE for the pdf… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Hazardous Materials: Flame Arrestors (USFA) Read More »
Yes, OSHA has rules for the use of flammable liquids in areas that are not designed as a Hazardous Location. OSHA covers Hazardous Locations in 1910.307, but those areas that do not rise to the level of being a Hazardous Location fall under 1910.334(d) which states:… Membership Required You must be a member to access...
This is an excellent photo that shows what happens when a FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS ATMOPSHERIC STORAGE tank does not have proper or adequate emergency venting. As we can see in this photo (Source: AP) the tank is still in tank, but with a large hole (e.g. new vent!). This tank was estimated to have reached the…...
Another “weak roof-to-shell seam” failure and results Read More »
… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Good video explaining how static is created and why it is worse in winter (video) Read More »
OSHA, as well as NFPA and IFC, permit a “weak roof-to-shell seam” as the means for emergency venting on an OUTSIDE ABOVE GROUND ATMOSPHERIC storage tank for flammable liquids. This method was vey common in the early days, but has since been replaced with engineered fire vents. This video does an excellent job demonstrating how…...
How a “weak roof-to-shell seam” works on an atmospheric storage tank Read More »
Over the past year or so we have come across several situations where facilities have replaced their flammable liquid storage tanks, which some are used as a “waste tank”. These “waste tanks” fall under EPA’s RCRA rule and apparently these tanks have to be “fully inspected” on a set frequency and when tanks sit directly…...
Flammable Liquid Tanks on “Legs” Read More »
In the world of process safety, we have Safe Upper and Lower limits on a lot of common process parameters, such as pressures, levels, temperatures, etc. Flows on the other hand are quite often overlooked as a critical process parameter and when your HHC/EHS is a non-conductive flammable liquid both FLOW and LEVEL must be…...
Controlling flow rates of non-conductive flammable liquids Read More »
