At 2:45 p.m. on May 31, 2024, Employee #1, 39, was performing welding work on a diesel fuel tank. During the welding process, an explosion occurred, resulting in the employee’s fatal injuries. The explosion was caused by overpressure inside the tank, which caused metal parts to be ejected. Emergency services responded to the scene, but…...
At 3:00 a.m. on February 19, 2020, Employee #1, 30, was using a torch to “dry” his shirt after spilling isopropanol on it. The employee’s shirt caught on fire, and the employee picked up the shirt in an attempt to extinguish the flames. The employee started to spin the shirt in his left hand and,…...
On July 23, 2020, an employee, 30, was looking into a vessel being filled with chemicals, including Isopropyl alcohol, to ensure the level of the mixture was above the blades before turning on the mixers. The access port was mounted with one bolt so the employee could rotate the cover to look in. The employee…...
I have spent my career working with flammable liquids, and those who have followed my writings on the topic understand why I have stopped using 1910.106 as my baseline flammable liquid safety standard and instead began using either the IFC or NFPA 30. I have been involved in several serious events where atmospheric storage tanks…...
29 CFR 1910.106(d)(2)(iii) specifies the maximum container size depending upon the category of flammable liquid and the type of material from which the container is made. However, it is not uncommon to see flammable liquids in plastic and glass containers that are larger than allowed by the standard. In many cases the chemical is in…...
As many of you know, I stopped using 1910.106, OSHA’s flammable liquid standard, nearly 20 years ago. Instead, I use the Internation Fire Code for all my Hazardous Materials, especially flammable liquids and gases. This code provides some excellent design/requirements for unloading flammable liquids, which can be one of the HIGHEST RISKS on a plant…...
Since 2012, the IFC has required special signage at each Flammable Liquid Truck/Railcar unloading station. This signage is intended to reduce “tank overflow” events (e.g., Loss of Primary Containment (LOPC) events). Here are the requirements:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
On July 7, 2020, an employee, 33, was standing on a ladder pouring caramel color from its storage container into a 500-gallon batch of rum that was being made in a 1250-gallon tank of alcohol (type unknown). As the employee began to pour the caramel, a flash occurred due to an electrostatic discharge contacting the…...
On June 8, 2022, piping at an LNG Terminal failed, resulting in an explosion and fire. The explosion and fire occurred entirely within the fenced boundaries of the facilities. The facility immediately shut down its operations and notified first responders. With assistance from local fire departments, the fire at the terminal was brought under control…...
Table 5704.4.2—Outdoor liquid storage in closed containers and portable tanks (see below) is often referenced when a business wants to store flammable liquids outside the main building. I wanted to take a second to explain the application of that table to those on the EHS team who may not be experienced with the OH Fire…...
Lots of folks find it hard to believe when I discuss Minimum Ignition Energy for flammable vapors/gases and Combustible dust. When we get “shocked” by a door handle in the wintertime, and we can feel it, that is around 10-15 mJ. Most common flammable gases and vapors now have MIE’s less than 1.0 mJ. Watch…...
I teach about a dozen flammable liquid courses annually, and it is one of my favorite courses to teach, as I love the technical side of hazardous materials. And my course always starts with a discussion around the 1st step in making a flammable liquid a hazardous material… FLASH POINT. And over the 30+ years,…...
