A question I have asked for years, starting back in the late 1980’s when I began wearing SCBAs. I have asked this question to dozens, maybe hundreds of people, way smarter than me, and everyone was stumped. So today I had a lengthy discussion on SCBAs and the question was asked of me again. So…...
Many may be familiar with “flange jumpers,” or some may call them “bonding jumpers,” that are used to ensure a continuity to ground across a flange with gaskets that act as “insulators”, such as PTFE gaskets. During a recent walkdown of a flammable liquids process, I came across this “jumper”. Design called for “jumpers” on…...
Yes, I am still on this horse! As I discussed last month, there are a number of chemicals that specifically REQUIRE HRVs on liquid piping. Those are chemicals like NH3, Cl2, and LPG, to name the top three (3). But I have recently read a root cause analysis in which a flammable-liquid piping flange leaked,…...
I have written over a dozen posts explaining the code requirements for annual inspection/testing of our chemical hoses. But in the world of PSM/RMP, there is another hose that requires annual inspection and testing… The primary standard requiring fire hose to be service-tested annually is NFPA 1962, Standard for the Care, Use, Inspection, Service Testing,…...
I have been having fun using AI to help me create training images. I love doing LOTO training, and I am always challenged on just how little energy it takes to be “hazardous” and how even 0.1 psig can be lethal. (as shown below)… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View...
On April 7, 2026, about 7:15 a.m. local time, a DOT 407 AL (aluminum) cargo tank, owned and operated by Brenntag, carrying about 1,100 gallons of Sodium Hydroxide Solution (UN1824), exploded at a facility in Mooresville, North Carolina. The driver of the semi-tractor-trailer to which the cargo tank was attached was killed in the explosion…....
Shenyang Petrochemical Company “The Big Poisoning Accident“ The gas sub-device of Shenyang Paraffin Chemical Company suffered a poisoning accident during the maintenance and construction process, resulting in three (3) Deaths. The immediate causes of the accident were: When the operator carried out the blind plate swapping operation at the pump relief blind plate, the operator…...
I get it, it’s a 19-second video, and it will probably stir more questions than responses, but this topic is one that needs MUCH discussion. I have made this page FREE for anyone who wishes to chime in. A couple of items to consider: So what say you? We can discuss this in the comments…...
Establishing a Double Block and Bleed (DB&B) positive isolation is a critical safety protocol when preparing piping and equipment for opening, especially when dealing with Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS). This process ensures that hazardous materials (HAZMAT) are effectively evacuated and isolated to protect workers from accidental releases. Members can download my .ppt file at bottom…...
As with my NH3 article, I wanted to verify and document the same scenario for scrubbing 1 pound of Cl2 with 50% Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH). Here is what Gemini+ had to say… When Chlorine (Cl2) gas is safely scrubbed with Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH), the reaction produces sodium hypochlorite (bleach), sodium chloride (salt), and water. Bottom…...
As I have written many times, our bulk chemical transfer hoses MUST be part of an Inspection and Testing Program. These tests follow the same logic as pressure testing piping, and Hydrostatic Testing is far safer than pneumatic testing. So I asked Google Gemini+ to show me the difference in failure energies to demonstrate this…...
To determine the internal static overpressure generated by the catastrophic failure of a liquid Nitrogen (LN2) dewar, we look at the physics of a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) and the resulting rapid phase transition…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
