Hazardous Materials

Pipefitter Struck in Chest While RemovingEnd Cap from Pressurized Pipe

In December 2006, a journeyman pipefitter (P1) was struck in the chest by a pipe cap that he was removing from a pressurized pipe. Some leaks in an 8-inch waterline needed repair. To help find the leak locations, valves were closed off in the lines, creating sectionalized portions of the air-charged waterline. The waterline was…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Pipefitter Struck in Chest While RemovingEnd Cap from Pressurized Pipe Read More »

The energy of compressed gases

Gas cylinders holding 1.5 ft3 of gas are often filled to ~2,100 psig. At such high pressure, damaged or mishandled cylinders can fracture violently and release enormous amounts of energy, comparable to…… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

The energy of compressed gases Read More »

LPG Cylinders for PITs require a 12-year requalification – MANY do NOT get them

I have seen a cost savings trend that is increasing risks in a big way. It may seem minor to those who do not understand risk, but using a pressure cylinder without it being inspected and tested at its prescribed frequency is a serious safety miss. Usually, these risks are controlled somewhat when the facility…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

LPG Cylinders for PITs require a 12-year requalification – MANY do NOT get them Read More »

UPDATE: Massive Container Explosion Was Caused By Self-Heating Chemical Cargo (Runaway Reaction of tert-butyl perbenzoate (TBPB)

According to China’s Maritime Safety Administration (CMSA), the shipping container explosion aboard the box ship YM Mobility at Ningbo in 2024 was caused by thermal runaway in a cargo of organic peroxides. The container in question was a refrigerated shipping container filled with tert-butyl perbenzoate (TBPB), a common activator for making plastics like polyethylene and polyester. It…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

UPDATE: Massive Container Explosion Was Caused By Self-Heating Chemical Cargo (Runaway Reaction of tert-butyl perbenzoate (TBPB) Read More »

Overfilling LPG Cylinders

Recently, I shared the investigation results of the fatal LPG explosion in Hillsboro, OH. The cylinder had been overfilled, leading to its catastrophic failure, which then led to LPG gas finding an ignition source in the car repair garage and exploding. I took some flak for stating that I have seen overfilling of LPG cylinders…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Overfilling LPG Cylinders Read More »

Example of “Highly Toxic” and the fatal event (OSHA)

The term “Highly Toxic” has been codified in the IFC as: A material which produces a lethal dose or lethal concentration which falls within any of the following categories: 1. A chemical that has a median lethal dose (LD50) of 50 milligrams or less per kilogram of body weight when administered orally to albino rats…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Example of “Highly Toxic” and the fatal event (OSHA) Read More »

Fatal Hydrogen Tube-Trailer Accident

In 1981, workers at LANL were about to fill hydrogen (H2) cylinders from a large, H2-filled tube trailer. They used a manifold containing residual oxygen (O2), which was also connected to a tube trailer of O2 with only one valve separating these incompatible gases. When the mix ignited, the workers attempted to purge O2 from…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Fatal Hydrogen Tube-Trailer Accident Read More »

Reading labels on equipment rated for HAZLOCs

For those new to working in Hazardous Locations (HAZLOCs), the very best resource for the “lay person” is from the US Coast Guard “Drill Down” series. They published eight (8) documents that explains:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Reading labels on equipment rated for HAZLOCs Read More »

Nitrogen Cryo Therapy claims another life

I have written many times about this “therapy” and the hazards I have seen in these spas related to the storage and handling of Liquid Nitrogen (LN2). This week, we saw another fatality and several people hospitalized from an overexposure to N2. A customer was undergoing a session when a N2 leak killed a spa…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Nitrogen Cryo Therapy claims another life Read More »

Power and Gas company pays $20M to settle failures it made related to gas piping specifications and failure to perform pressure testing

On December 24, 2008, natural gas leaking from a gas distribution pipeline resulted in an explosion and fire at 10708 Pauite Way, Rancho Cordova, California. One person died, and others were injured. The National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) immediately began to investigate the accident. The NTSB concluded its investigation on May 18, 2010, with the…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Power and Gas company pays $20M to settle failures it made related to gas piping specifications and failure to perform pressure testing Read More »

Scroll to Top