These photos from a recent tank barge explosion serve as a stark reminder of how dangerous cargo tank cleaning and gas freeing operations can be if safety regulations under Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1915 and Title 33 CFR Part 154 are not followed, and equipment is not properly maintained and inspected…...
OSHA has cited a carpet restoration, plumbing, and resurfacing contractor for exposing employees to safety and health hazards after a fatal incident at a worksite. The company faces $183,127 in penalties. OSHA initiated an investigation after an employee suffered fatal injuries after inhaling lacquer thinner, which was used to resurface a bathtub. OSHA cited the…...
In the past several weeks I have tried to explain the fundamental safety practices of storing the alcohols many businesses are using to make hand sanitizer. This post I wanted to share two videos that show the flammability of these hand sanitizers and an excellent video from NFPA about how the changes at businesses such…...
We have discussed the hazards and risks associated with the transferring of hazardous materials in bulk. This case was a terminal to ship transfer, but these basic failures can happen on any transfer. Not following procedures, not utilizing an unloading checklist, and not using the unloading process and the nitrogen purge process as it was…...
Well, we knew it would just be a matter of time until someone did this. Again, the fear of contracting a virus has apparently overridden all rational thinking. This picture was shared this morning in one of my favorite Facebook Groups Fire Inspectors With No Borders. We do not know the background of the…...
This past month we have lived with the COVID19 pandemic and the fear that comes with it. I have spent hours trying to stop one of the social media myths about COVID19 and gas pump handles. There have been viral posts suggesting that people use plastic shopping bags to handle the…...
Earlier this week I explained the OSHA requirements for storing Flammable Liquids “outside”, using Ethanol as my example since so many businesses have been converted over to making hand sanitizers, many of which have never managed such a large inventory of flammable liquids. Part 2 is to cover those businesses who wish to store their…...
The humanity and compassion that many ordinary businesses are showing during this pandemic are heartwarming and patriotic. But it is also very concerning and quite frankly dangerous to see some of the images from their public announcements of their efforts. As a profession, we need to step up and help these businesses manage their hazardous…...
My March 16th article about the hand sanitizers being a CAT 3 Flammable Liquid caused quite the ruckus. Many did not want to accept the fact until they went and found out on their own that these alcohol-based hand sanitizers are indeed flammable liquids. And once they came to this realization the questions started to…...
When your hand sanitizer has 50% more Alcohol it will be at least a Category 3 Flammable Liquid – just review the SDS for your product of choice if you doubt me. In fact, some hand sanitizers with higher Alcohol percentages may be a Category 2 Flammable Liquid. In the light of COVID-19 virus pandemic,…...
Earlier this year I wrote an article about the International Fire Code (IFC) and its practice of limiting flammable liquids outside of proper storage means, such as cabinets and rooms. In that article I posted the OSHA requirements but did not explain how the OSHA requirements applied to workplaces, rather I chose to use the…...
Styrene has been a chemical I just can not seem to get away from. I dealt with it throughout my career in the petro-chem industry and now as a consultant, I have a number of clients who use this flammable liquid in a number of different processes. In 2005 I was consulted about a leaking…...
