Employee #1 was mixing an automobile cleaning solution, which required that several chemicals to be added to a mixing tank. He would first weigh out the appropriate amount of a chemical and then use a chemical transfer pump to move it into an empty drum until the desired amount (by weight) was obtained. This task […]
We have discussed the pros and cons of pressure testing/leak testing piping. Code requires the test to be Hydrostatic Test; but if there is a legitmate issue with doing a hydrostatic test, then we can use the pneumatic test method. But we MUST realize the catastrophic/fatal hazard of pneumatic testing. For example,
When teaching my HAZMAT and Process Safety courses, we always cover chemical properties @ atmospheric conditions, higher pressure, and under a vacuum. Most people who have never been trained in these properties simply think that water freezes at 32F and boils at 212F. THese properties are accurate when we are in standard atmospheric conditions. But
Supposedly, the liquid leak was from a failed gasket (as stated by an EPA official earlier this week). But now we have been told the gasket was on a 12” manway on the bottom of the tanker as shown below. The pictures were taken at the time of the release and appear to show what
Corrosion allowance is the extra thickness of metal added to a component to account for material loss from corrosion over its service life, ensuring it can withstand pressure and structural loads until the end of its designed life. It is calculated based on the predicted corrosion rate, operating conditions, and the equipment’s anticipated life, using
ASME PCC-3 guides the preparation and implementation of a risk-based inspection plan. Flaws identified during inspection plan implementation are then evaluated, when appropriate, using the procedures provided in API 579-1/ASME FFS-1, Fitness-for-Service. If it is determined that repairs are required, guidance on repair procedures is provided in ASME PCC-2, Repair of Pressure Equipment and Piping.
A fatal accident occurred in a laboratory in Australia, resulting in the death of a technician. A standard geology technique, which involved dissolving sedimentary rock with mineral acids (hydrochloric and hydrofluoric), was being undertaken in a fume hood. The technician involved was believed to be seated when he knocked over a small quantity (between 100
This debate seems never to die, and I keep adding more examples to make my point crystal clear… When pressure- and leak-testing piping, we are to use the Hydrostatic Method rather than the Pneumatic Method. ASME provides three (3) specific situations in which we can use Pneumatic Testing instead of Hydrostatic Testing. And these exceptions
A plant worker died following an exposure to hydrofluoric acid at a chemical plant in St. Gabriel. Two workers with burns were taken from the plant to a hospital where one of them died during surgery. company statement: (scrubbed by me)
I am not a fan of “government”, but I am a fan of so many of the workers within our government. They can do some fantastic work. Take this latest and greatest tool for Chemical Safety, for example. This is just too “cool,” and if you are into HAZMATs or Chemical Safety, this is a
Anhydrous ammonia bulk storage plants shall not be installed within the limits of any municipality unless such anhydrous ammonia bulk storage plant is located within an industrial park or an industrial area serviced by a municipal fire department. The installation of any such bulk storage plant within the limits of a municipality, the construction of
The following policy applies to anhydrous ammonia storage tanks (tanks) in Kansas.
