In light of the recent HSE video showing a 30′ silo exploding and going airborne for 9 seconds, I thought it might be fitting to offer some guidance on how to SAFELY perform HW on these “used containers.” OSHA’s 1910.252 standard provides no advice other than to say that we must be “absolutely certain” that the container is vapor/gas free.
But the IFC, 3510.2, offers some requirements (for those who wish to follow it) for when Hot Work is performed on the interior or exterior of tanks that hold or have held flammable or combustible liquids.
First, here are the OSHA requirements from 1910.252(a)(3)