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September 23, 2016

China averaged 29 chemical accidents per month so far this year - Greenpeace

China averaged 29 chemical accidents per month so far this year - Greenpeace: Beijing, 21 September, 2016 - 232 chemical-related accidents occurred in China from January to August 2016, an average of 29 per month, according to Greenpeace East Asia’s ‘Chemical Accident Counter’. The accidents caused 199 deaths and 400 injuries. The findings demonstrate the lax management of China’s chemicals industry, the world’s largest. In addition, preliminary findings from Greenpeace East Asia’s chemicals industry distribution mapping shows a worrying correlation of facility location and population density, as well as proximity to ecologically sensitive areas. Greenpeace calls on the Chinese government to radically overhaul the current chemicals management system and introduce greater transparency.


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September 21, 2016

Bomb Squad: How Cops Safely Move Explosives

Bomb Squad: How Cops Safely Move Explosives

Interesting fact about ""Total containment

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September 16, 2016

How many people die at US oil refineries each year? - EHS today

An article published in 2015 in EHS today gives the number and reasons for accidents in US refineries till 2015. An interesting statistic from the article is "At least 64 people died at refineries in the 10 years before the BP explosion. At least 58 people have died since March 23, 2005". Read the article in this link.

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September 13, 2016

Ball valve wrongly fixed causes an incident

A propane gas release took place during the opening of a flange on the downstream side of a ball valve on a propane pipeline.The ball valve was installed in the wrong direction, so that the cavity vent released the flow to the down stream side rather than to upstream side as intended. The incident occurred when vapor was released when the flange bolts on the downstream side of the ball valve were loosened. Personnel arrested and stopped the release of propane vapor after tightening the flange with full bunker gear and self contained breathing apparatus.

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September 9, 2016

Ammonia tanker accident 1976- lessons to learn

 Ammonia tanker accident 1976- lessons to learn

 http://abc13.com/news/a-look-back-40-years-after-the-worst-accident-in-houston-history/1332062/

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September 7, 2016

Accident in Sewage Treatment plant


Employee #1, the lead operator of a sewage treatment plant, noticed that the residual levels had dropped in the tanks, and he decided to add more ammonium hydroxide to increase the residual levels. Employee #1 removed the camlock fitting and line from an empty 335 gallon tote and installed it to a full 335 gallon tote containing ammonium hydroxide solution. While installing the camlock fitting and line onto the full tote, he failed to secure the camlock fitting latches into the valve coupling grooves.

As Employee #1 turned the valve to the open position, the camlock fitting and line sprung off the coupling and sprayed ammonium hydroxide onto his upper legs and groin area. Employee #1 immediately turned off the valve and secured the camlock fitting latches into the coupling grooves. He then went to the emergency eyewash/shower, approximately 120 feet away, to rinse off the ammonium hydroxide. Employee #1 rinsed for approximately 15 minutes, but did not take off his clothing.

He then drove a golf cart to the administrative building, to notify management of the accident. Management summoned emergency medical services at approximately 9:45 a.m. and rinsed Employee #1 with an emergency eyewash/shower, located in the administrative building, until the ambulance arrived. Employee #1 was transferred to the hospital via ambulance at approximately 10:00 a.m. He was hospitalized for two days for treatment of chemical burns to his upper legs and groin areas.
The use of ammonium hydroxide to control residual levels in tanks was a new process at the facility. No written procedures or hazard assessments were completed for the assigned task. Employee #1 was wearing safety glasses but no other form of PPE during the accident. Employee #1 said he was in a hurry and normally would have worn rubber gloves and a respirator while transferring the camlock and line from one tote to another.

 Source: Fire Analysis and Research Division,National Fire Protection Association

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September 4, 2016

Insulation Integrity

Mechanical repair of insulation is important

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September 1, 2016

Emergency response to a fire in a Motor spirit tank in a refinery

Read about a response to a fire in a Motor spirit tank in a refinery in this link.What lessons can you learn?

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