Flammable Liquids

Improper direct-reading instrument sampling tube leads to fatal explosion (UK’s HSE)

A fatal explosion at a chemical facility in 2018 killed a welder who was carrying out maintenance work on a mixing vessel. The HSE investigation found that toluene vapors had leaked into the vessel from faulty valves, producing a flammable atmosphere. Workers had checked the atmosphere with a flammable gas monitor before their work began…....

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“Switch Loading” and “splash filling” lead to tanker truck explosion killing the VP of the company

On February 2, 2011, Employees #1 and #2 worked for a petroleum and petroleum product company. Employee #1 was on top of a transport tanker into which the firm’s vice-president transferred #1 diesel fuel, mixing it with about 1,000 gallons of #2 diesel fuel.  Employee #2 was on the ground. After “splash filling” the center…...

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Failure to PROPERLY VENT flammable vapors causes flashfire @ gas station

In this video, we can see BOTH operators fail to vent the gasoline vapors BACK into the truck.  Instead, they vent them to the atmosphere at ground level.  Gasoline vapors are 2X the weight of air, so they travel along the ground until they find an adequate ignition source (<1 mJ) and accumulate to their…...

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The differences between the OSHA and NFPA requirements for storage of flammable liquids (MN-OSHA)

Inside storage rooms (Liquid Storage Rooms) are normally used: when the containers are opened for mixing, pouring, dispensing, or transfer of flammable liquids; if the quantity is too large to fit into an approved cabinet; if the quantity is excessive for any one fire area; and/or if the opened containers cannot be separated from potential…...

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Non-Conductive Flammable Liquids and filling non-conductive containers

Filling or handling plastic or other non-conducting containers can still be hazardous when the flammable liquid is conductive. The splashing (filling) and turbulence of the liquid in the container can cause a static electric charge to build up in the liquid or on conductive parts of the container that are not adequately grounded. A spark…...

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Portable Fuel Container Voluntary Standards Under the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act

The Portable Fuel Container Safety Act of 2020 (PFCSA) provides that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission) must promulgate a rule to require flame mitigation devices in portable fuel containers that impede the propagation of flame into the container unless the Commission determines that there is a voluntary standard for flame mitigation devices that impedes…...

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Diesel Fuel is a CAT 3 FLAMMABLE LIQUID and needs to be respected

At 11:45 a.m. on May 16, 2022, an employee was preparing to pump fuel into a pump station at an oil and gas site. He was holding the fuel pump and walking towards the fuel tank, when he tripped and inadvertently squeezed the pump’s handle, releasing diesel fuel. When the diesel contacted the pump manifold,…...

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Fatal Hot Work Explosion; Tanker Truck

At 10:30 a.m. on June 15, 2022, an employee was MIG welding nipples onto the top of a fuel tank truck. The purpose of the nipples was to facilitate a steam cleaning process for the tank, and the work was being performed in an indoor bay of a building. The employee was welding when the…...

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Flammable Liquids, Cast Iron, and ASME Section VIII

If you can tell, I was at a flammable liquids processing facility last week for an introductory visit.  It did not go well as we could not agree on basic compliance measures and RAGAGEP practices associated with PSM-covered and non-covered processes.  One of the major pushbacks I got was their use of some ancient, non-nameplated…...

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Flammable Liquids, MAWP, ASME Section VIII, and threaded pipe

We talk a lot about flanged and welded connections but not so much about threaded connections.  This is mainly based on my limited experience with threaded connections used in HAZMAT processes.  But one thing I did learn about threaded connections is a MAJOR prohibition for threaded connections @ vessels when the piping/vessel will contain flammable…...

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How quickly conditions can change with a flammable liquid fire

 This is a real event – not a training event.  PPE matters when dealing with a flammable liquids fire (even the potential for)… Flammable Liquid Fire Footage from Orange County Fire Authority on Vimeo…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

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