Hazardous Materials

Chemical Reaction During Cargo Transfer Matlack, Inc Louisville, KY November 19, 1998 NTSB Number HZB 00/02 PDF Accident No: DCA99MZ003 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Date of Accident: November 19, 1998 Time: 8:15 a.m. eastern standard time Carrier: Matlack, Inc. Vehicles: MC-307 Cargo Tank Injured: 7 minor Evacuated: About 2,400 people were evacuated from the plant and…...

I am often asked why I am such a stickler for unloading/loading HAZMATS and where I come up all of “my requirements” for these tasks.  Yes, I am a stickler for these tasks as my career has seen its fair share of unloading/loading incidents.  As for “my requirements” I can not actually take credit for…...

Those of you that have followed me and my ramblings for years know that I am a stickler for unloading/loading operations involving HAZMAT(s).  Some of the worst accidents in my career in the chemical industry involved the unloading/loading of HAZMATs.  I have written many times about the hazards of unloading even mildly hazardous materials into…...

Goal To determine a recommended, non-destructive metallurgical testing method and protocol for detecting cracks in a nurse tank, and to develop guidelines for when to require repair or order a nurse tank out-of-service. Research results are intended to support a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended rulemaking by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration…...

The North Dakota Industrial Commission has adopted new conditioning standards to improve the safety of Bakken crude oil for transport.  Order No. 25417 sets operating standards for conditioning equipment to properly separate production fluids into gas and liquid. The order includes parameters for temperatures and pressures under which the equipment must operate to ensure that…...

The maximum allowable quantity per control area is specified in Tables 5003.1.1(1) through 5003.1.1(4) of the IFC.  Tables 5003.1.1(1) through 5003.1.1(4) establish the maximum quantities allowed in a control area (see Section 5003.8.2 for design and protection requirements). If the quantity of chemicals used in a building does NOT exceed the maximum allowed per control…...

Over the years I have posted several articles about hazardous materials being unloaded to the wrong tank.  And it seems that each time I do I get several e-mails stating how rare these events are and that I am being an alarmist.  So I thought I would post a section of a PHMSA Investigation Report…...

PHMSA is amending the Hazardous Materials Regulations to maintain alignment with international standards by incorporating various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. These revisions are necessary to harmonize the Hazardous Materials Regulations with recent changes made to the…...