I am always amazed at the number of facilities that do not understand their hazardous materials and the proper safety techniques in managing the hazards these HAZMATs present. Recently I came acorss a sitution where a contractor was left to “prepare piping for a line break”. The facility utilizes natural gas, as a fuel, within…...
For the doubting Thomas (no offense to actual people named Thomas), here is a bit of info to BELIEVE… I can not believe I have to say this in the Year 2026, but: Anhydrous Ammonia is a FLAMMABLE GAS Look it up on any reputable SDS. Yes, it is shipped as a non-flammable gas, but…...
When comparing a Wheatstone bridge detector and a catalytic bead detector (often called a pellistor), it is essential to clarify their fundamental relationship: they are not competing technologies, but rather complementary components of the exact same industrial gas detection system. A catalytic bead sensor CANNOT function without a Wheatstone bridge circuit, and in the context…...
Recently, a compressed gas cylinder exploded in a state university campus laboratory. The explosion was attributed to dangerous alterations that had been made to the cylinder. At approximately 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 12, 2006, an explosion occurred in a state university chemistry building laboratory, causing substantial building damage. The explosion resulted from a rupture…...
Marking Hazardous (Classified) Locations is a critical step in both compliance and personnel safety. While OSHA and the NEC (NFPA 70) mandate the classification of these areas, they are surprisingly quiet on exactly how to physically mark them. Because “invisible” hazards like flammable vapors or combustible dust can’t be seen, you should use a tiered…...
In the world of pressure vessels (like those governed by ASME Section VIII), the terms “stress relieved during fabrication”, Cold-Formed Heads, and Hot-formed Heads relate to heat, but they are very different techniques used in PV construction. PWHT is about treating the material after it’s been worked, while “hot formed heads” is about shaping the…...
UPDATED 5/2016 Each year more and more states are adopting International Codes. The chart below is a list of all states and US Territories that have adopted these codes, the code edition they adopted, whether the code is enforced state wide or local governments, etc. This listing is up-to-date thru September 2015. Are you complying…...
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…...
Propane cylinders must be periodically requalified to be safe for use. Do not use cylinders that have not been requalified because you risk property damage, severe injuries, or death. To see if your cylinder is okay to use, look for these markings:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready...
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…...
