Valves that must be operated during an emergency shall be examined periodically and partially operated at least once a year to provide safe and proper operating conditions. Routine valve maintenance procedures shall include, but not be limited to, the following:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member?...
Emergency Hydrogen Valve(s) Maintenance (ASME B31.12) Read More »
Hazardous chemicals which are carried on transportation vehicles, including rail cars, can be subject to EPCRA reporting when they are not under active shipping papers and have reached the consignee identified on the shipping papers. See House Report No. 99-962 (Committee of Conference), October 3, 1986. 99 Cong. Conf. H. Report 962, at 311, which…...
When does “storage incident to transportation” end? Read More »
UPDATED on 6/6/24 with OFD Run Report and Investigation I have written about the risks associated with wanting to use larger CO2 containers in the restaurant industry. The IFC now has a section on the hazards associated with these larger cylinders. Still, most of the code deals with CO2 leaks causing an oxygen-deficient atmosphere,…...
CO2 Dewar catastrophically fails at Orlando restaurant Read More »
High-hazard Group H occupancy includes, among other things, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, that involves the manufacturing, processing, generation, or storage of materials that constitute a physical or health hazard. Hazardous occupancies are classified in Groups H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 and H-5. High-hazard Group H-1 buildings and structures that…...
Just what is required for a High-hazard Group H occupancy? Read More »
Eight people, including five (5) contract workers and three (3) fire service personnel, were admitted to the hospital after they inhaled chlorine gas following a leakage at a water treatment plant…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Line Break gone bad (Cl2 cylinder change) Read More »
I will again reference my 30 years of teaching emergency response courses and the surprising lack of hazard awareness so many “certified technicians” lack. The one that get a lot of attention is the relationship between TOXIC and PHYSICAL hazards when the HAZMAT is both toxic and flammable. I have shared many tips over the…...
Just because you won’t be working in a flammable atmopshere, it may still be TOXIC Read More »
Since gas use was integral to the UH accident and since compressed gas cylinders present serious safety issues, several specific examples of improper gas and gas cylinder usage are detailed here. 1. Cylinders in the laboratories adjacent to POST 30 as well as in several laboratories located in different buildings, contained Teflon tape on the…...
H2 and O2 explosion learnings (UH explosion resultings in amputation) Read More »
There are two (2) types of Asphyxiants: Simple Chemical also known as Systemic These different types of asphyxiants behave differently and cause harm differently…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Get to know your STKY chemicals (Asphyxiants) Read More »
Chlorine is EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS, with an IDLH of 10 ppm and a TLV of 0.5 ppm (just above the odor threshold for most). Chlorine is heavier than air (VD > 2.5), and when released, it forms a greenish-yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor that follows the terrain at ground level. The mean odor threshold…...
Get to know your STKY chemicals (Cl2) Read More »
Recently, a facility experienced firsthand why the IFC and its state fire code PROHIBIT the movement of hazardous materials via the facility’s “tunnel system.” The code does not prohibit the use of the tunnel system or even in enclosed corridors. Still, the design requirements for these tunnel systems or enclosed corridors to move HAZMATs are…...
Facility “tunnels/corridors” are NOT for HAZMAT movement Read More »
The battle continues, this time outside process safety! I get these arguments routinely when people inquire if they can use their HHC/EHS as the media for pressure and leak testing. I can only assume that PHMSA is getting pushback by requiring water or other similar viscosity liquid to be used as the test medium. When…...
PHMSA asking for feedback on “requiring water be the fluid for Hydro testing containers” Read More »
The 2024 edition of the International Fire Code has a new “table” that lists several exemptions. These exemptions come with some limitations, such as… Exempted materials and conditions listed in this table are required to comply with provisions of this code that are not based on exceeding maximum allowable quantities inSection 5003. Here are a…...
New HAZMAT exemptions (2024 IFC) Read More »
