February 26, 2022
The Benefits of Explosion-Protected Cameras in High-Risk Environments
February 22, 2022
Safety and Digitalization Big Parts of Sustainability
February 18, 2022
Cybersecurity: The Biggest Threats Are Likely Within Your Organization
February 14, 2022
The Urgency of Protecting the Electric Grid from Cyberattacks
February 10, 2022
Practical guidelines for determining electrical area classification
February 6, 2022
Safe Temporary Power and Lighting Strategies For Refinery Turn-around Activities
https://www.electricalsafetypub.com/news-headlines/safe-temporary-power-and-lighting-strategies-for-refinery-turn-around-activities/
February 2, 2022
IGNITION SOURCES - IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL HSE UK
Ignition sources may be:
Direct fired space and process heating;
Use of cigarettes/matches etc;
Cutting and welding flames;
Hot surfaces;
Heated process vessels such as dryers and furnaces;
Hot process vessels;
Space heating equipment;
Mechanical machinery;
Electrical equipment and lights
Spontaneous heating;
Friction heating or sparks;
Impact sparks;
Sparks from electrical equipment;
Stray currents from electrical equipment
Electrostatic discharge sparks:
Lightning strikes.
Electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths
Vehicles, unless specially designed or modified are likely to contain a range of potential ignition sources
Sources of ignition should be effectively controlled in all hazardous areas by a combination of design measures, and systems of work:
Using electrical equipment and instrumentation classified for the zone in which it is located. New mechanical equipment will need to be selected in the same way. (See above);
Earthing of all plant/ equipment (see Technical Measures Document on Earthing)
Elimination of surfaces above auto-ignition temperatures of flammable materials being handled/stored (see above);
Provision of lightning protection
Correct selection of vehicles/internal combustion engines that have to work in the zoned areas (see Technical Measures Document on Permit to Work Systems);
Correct selection of equipment to avoid high intensity electromagnetic radiation sources, e.g. limitations on the power input to fibre optic systems, avoidance of high intensity lasers or sources of infrared radiation
Prohibition of smoking/use of matches/lighters
Controls over the use of normal vehicles
Controls over activities that create intermittent hazardous areas, e.g. tanker loading/unloading
Control of maintenance activities that may cause sparks/hot surfaces/naked flames through a Permit to Work System
Precautions to control the risk from pyrophoric scale, usually associated with formation of ferrous sulphide inside process equipment
Direct Fired Heaters, Hot Oil Systems and Processes Operating Above Auto-Ignition Temperatures
SOURCE: https://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/sragtech/techmeasareaclas.htm
January 28, 2022
Explosion Relief Vents for Highly Effective and Economical Explosion Protection
https://bulkinside.com/bulk-solids-handling/explosion-protection-process-safety/explosion-relief-vents-for-highly-effective-and-economical-explosion-protection/
January 24, 2022
January 20, 2022
PREVENTING COMBUSTIBLE DUST EXPLOSIONS
https://bulkinside.com/bulk-solids-handling/explosion-protection-process-safety/preventing-combustible-dust-explosions/
January 16, 2022
IGNITION RISKS OF ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE
https://bulkinside.com/bulk-solids-handling/explosion-protection-process-safety/background-to-the-ignition-risks-of-electrostatic-charge/
January 12, 2022
SUGAR AS AN EXPLOSION RISK
https://bulkinside.com/bulk-solids-handling/explosion-protection-process-safety/sugar-explosion-risk-grounding-helps/
January 8, 2022
DUST EXPLOSION HAZARDS
https://bulkinside.com/bulk-solids-handling/explosion-protection-process-safety/dust-explosion-hazards/
January 4, 2022
IS TRUCK GROUNDING NECESSARY?
https://bulkinside.com/bulk-solids-handling/explosion-protection-process-safety/is-truck-grounding-necessary/
January 1, 2022
WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
To all my readers, wish you a very Happy and Healthy 2022! Play your part in avoiding LOPC's!
December 28, 2021
Explosion due to hydrocarbon being drawn into boiler firebox
A leak in a hydrocarbon refrigerant system formed a vapor cloud that was drawn into the inlet of a steam boiler. The increased fuel to the boiler caused rapidly rising pressure within a steam drum. The rapidly rising pressure exceeded the capacity of the boiler’s safety valve and the steam drum ruptured. The boiler rupture was close enough to the gas leak to ignite the vapor cloud and produce an explosion due the confined nature of the gas lea and an ensuing fireball. The fire took eight hours to extinguish. The explosions and fire destroyed a portion to the LNG plant and caused 27 deaths, and injury to 72 more.
December 24, 2021
LNG leak causes sewer explosion
LNG leak from open run-down line during a pipe modification project. LNG entered an underground
concrete storm sewer system and underwent a rapid vapor expansion that overpressured and ruptured
the sewer pipes. Storm sewer system substantially damaged.