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…...
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...
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...
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…...
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…...
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…...
A 43-year-old male employee was fatally injured in an explosion. On the day of the accident, the victim, a trailer mechanic, was working alone repairing a trailer in the maintenance shop of a freight distribution facility. There were no witnesses to the incident, and the building was deemed structurally unsound following the explosion. Through a detailed investigation, and incorporating…...
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…...
