The short answer is no. Radiographic Testing (RT) and pressure testing (Hydrostatic or Pneumatic) serve two (2) fundamentally different purposes in piping integrity. While it might seem like “over-testing,” they are not interchangeable in ASME B31.3 (Process Piping) or ASME B31.1 (Power Piping). Here is the breakdown of why 100% RT does not exempt you […]
Two (2) sanitation workers were killed, and a third was hospitalized in critical condition after they inhaled toxic fumes while cleaning a sewer line. The incident took place around 10.30 pm. The workers were employees of the local Municipality. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the first worker entered the sewer and failed to come out for a
My SDS list toluene’s lower explosive limit (LEL) as 1.2% by volume, often given as:
I was playing around with Google Gemini and wondered about its limitations and accuracy. One of the problems in my HAZMAT courses is showing just how small an amount of Cl2 it takes to achieve an IDLH concentration in a given space. So I asked it.. How many pounds of Chlorine Gas will it take
This event involved argon, a simple asphyxiant gas. The facility stored its Argon cylinders inside the 47,000 sq ft building, approximately 55 ft from where the workers were overcome. The Technical Sales representative from National Welders responded to the scene and tested for oxygen deficiency. He tested the system line at 100 psi, which revealed
Workers were weatherproofing the outer layer of a large ammonia storage tank when contractor-operated equipment struck a bleed pipe, causing an unplanned release of ammonia. Two (2) workers were exposed to ammonia, one worker suffering fatal injury and the other worker suffering minor injuries. NOTE: Another case of an EEBA not working because it was
While moving a mattress, employees accidentally bumped a stove knob, turning on the gas, which was left on overnight. This allowed gas to accumulate inside the camper. When the supervisor entered the unit, fresh air mixed with the propane, creating a flammable concentration. Once the power for lighting was restored, the ignition occurred, resulting in
An error in “requalification” of the 60-pound cylinder and an “overfilling event” led to the spectacular catastrophic failure of the 60-pound cylinder. The 60-pound propane cylinder split open instantly, releasing all of its contents. The force of the explosion ripped the metal cylinder cage door off its hinges, dented and deformed other propane cylinders in
A refinery has been fined more than $182,000 by WorkSafeBC after an incident that saw an employee’s clothing sprayed with hot oil. On Wednesday, April 8, WorkSafeBC put out a media release regarding the incident and a corresponding penalty of $182,282.38 levied against the refinery on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. A summary posted on the agency’s
Snapped this pic this week and thought it would be a great pic to start a discussion about Car-Sealing valves in their OPEN position. And yes, Car Seals are for more than just Pressure Relief Systems. In the pic below, there are two (2) valves that are candidates for Car Seals; one (1) of the
At 2:45 p.m. on September 19, 2014, two employees, both 50, were replacing a valve in a process line that transported 70% caustic solution of sodium hydroxide (NAOH) from storage tanks to a loading rack. While they were removing the valve and a stopper plate that had been previously inserted into the line, the employees
NTSB UPDATE: Upon arrival, the driver discovered the DOT 407 aluminum cargo tank was leaking and contacted his company to report it. NTSB officials say approximately 20 minutes later, the cargo tank exploded, separating the back compartment from the remainder of the cargo tank. The blast killed the driver and sent a plant worker to
