I use this example in my HAZMAT and flammable liquids training courses. To give away the magical answer (LOL), it’s all about the UEL of gasoline, which has a Flash Point of -50F and a vapor pressure of 450 mm Hg or 8.7 psig!… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View...
The short answer is no. While bonding and grounding are absolute regulatory requirements under OSHA 1910.106 and are foundational safety measures in flammable liquids safety, they are insufficient on their own when transferring non-conductive (e.g., conductivity < 50 pS/m) flammable liquids like toluene, xylene, benzene, or ultra-low sulfur diesel. This is a classic process safety…...
This is a follow-up to my guest appearance on Dr. David Ayer’s podcast, where we discussed “ventilating confined spaces,” and, as usual, we didn’t have enough time to go as deep as we wanted. So here is my detailed explanation as to why OSHA SPECIFICALLY calls out “Forced-Air” ventilation 7 times:… Membership Required You must...
In all my years of training, responding, and now teaching others, my NO-GO has always been 10,000 ppm. But why 10,000 ppm? Is this a Haywood thing, or is this based on science and the limitations of most direct reading instruments (DRI)? Well, here are the facts as to why 10,000 ppm should be your…...
I thought this image was a good way to show why Codes and standards for hazardous materials such as NH3 REQUIRE REMOTE Emergency Shutdown Systems. For example, CGA 2.1 states the following:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
In May of this year, OSHA issued an updated version of its CPL-02-02-079, Inspection Procedures for the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2024). In this updated CPL, OSHA explains the requirements for “secondary containers”, which has become a hotly contested practice for unknown reasons. I have spent the past 2 years trying to correct the “internet…...
As elevation increases, atmospheric pressure decreases, which means flammable liquids can “flash off” at lower temperatures. I always use the “Mile High Stadium” example in my training courses to explain this principle as it relates to Boiling Points and Flash Points. But NFPA explains it like this…… Membership Required You must be a member to...
An Ohio corporation pleaded guilty this week in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio to a charge of negligent endangerment. The criminal charge is related to an explosion that resulted in the death of one employee and injuries to several more. Yenkin-Majestic Paint Corporation was a family-owned and operated coatings-industry supplier based in…...
A process worker and colleague were preparing for a scheduled maintenance task in the ammonia storage area of a processing plant. As part of a routine purging operation, the process worker connected a flexible rubber hose to a purge connection point via a coupling. The purge hose was charged with nitrogen and the valve was…...
Transferring a flammable liquid, even in small quantities, can have very serious consequences. A former client who handles large quantities of flammable liquids had an event a number of years ago that was caused by what many never recognized as a “change,” especially one that would lead to such a serious event. Take a look…...
WAKE UP, PEOPLE! We have a RESPONSIBILITY in this profession, and the games some play will catch up with them; the consequences can be life-altering (rightfully so, in my opinion). It seems I piss off a lot of folks these days because I refuse to “stay in my lane” during audits, PHAs, training courses, etc…....
NOTE: I have no idea how a PIT can strike a PSV on a pressure vessel, but this is what was reported to have happened. A forklift at the facility struck a pressure relief valve on a 60,000-pound NH3 tank that contained 14,000 pounds of ammonia, the Sacramento Fire Department said. One person was injured…...
