The incident of LPG cylinder explosion while transported with oxygen cylinders, root cause analysis, measures to be taken and a PDF file containing some photos are available at the link below.
http://www.citehr.com/360198-cylinder-explosion.html
(The content is reproduced as the author permitted sharing this information without restrictions when some other interested reader enquired in the forum in which this article appeared. Thanks to the author.)
INCIDENT :
Two fatalities & one serious injury occurred in one of the major steel plant, while unloading of gas cylinders from the truck as seen in the photographs.
Brief Description :
During unloading the Oxygen cylinders from a truck which is loaded with 95 Oxygen & 5 LPG cylinders, the oxygen cylinder hit the neck ring of LPG cylinder which gave way its welding causing LPG leak followed by explosion & fire.Further the valve of the oxygen cylinder too got damaged & leaked causing explosion & the cylinder flown like a rocket. Two persons who were engaged for unloading were died & one person met with serious injuries.
Probable Causes :
1) The oxygen cylinders were stored in horizontal position & without protective caps.
2) LPG cylinders were kept along with oxygen cylinders.
3) Smoking in the area.
Lessons to be Learnt :
1) Gas cylinders need to be transported in vertical position
2) No gas cylinder is to be transported / handled without its protective cap. No cylinders should be received in our premises without having its cap.
3) Oxygen cylinder should not be transported along with cylinders containing flammable gas like LPG, Acetylene etc.
4) No smoking need to be strictly followed during transportation / handling the gas cylinders.
5) Gas cylinders need to be unloaded using standard method & not by throwing them.
Pl review the existing practices and takes appropriate actions. Please communicate to all, own / contractor employees about this incident.
Oct 21, 2011
Chlorine gas release - Over one hundred fall sick
As per the report (Toxic gas runs havoc) rupture of rusted pipeline carrying chlorine gas leads to atmospheric discharge and over one hundred persons from the factory, fire service and locals fall sick. The gas causes discoloring of leaves of the trees in the area.
The pipeline ruptured with a bang and workers inform that the pipeline is old and rusted. The fact that many of the sick were from the factory implies lack of communication, poor awareness about emergency actions and protective measures to be followed by the individuals.
The pipeline ruptured with a bang and workers inform that the pipeline is old and rusted. The fact that many of the sick were from the factory implies lack of communication, poor awareness about emergency actions and protective measures to be followed by the individuals.
Generally, vessels containing chemicals are tested but not the associated piping. Testing of piping along with containers should be made mandatory and the violators should be punished for endangering the safety of the living beings and the environment.
Four Dead From Toxic Gas Incident at Shipyard | Maritime News | Maritime Executive Magazine
Deaths due to insufficient oxygen - a case of confined space death. Victims were inside the scrapped ship as per the report below.
Four Dead From Toxic Gas Incident at Shipyard | Maritime News | Maritime Executive MagazineLINK
Oct 20, 2011
Lab safety - CSB advice
Safety is talked much in industries and followed to some extent. But, the research facilities and academic institutions, where experiments are carried out, this important activity is normally left to the wisdom of the individuals. No study is carried out about hazards in the experiments.
Chemical Safety Board of US recommends the following for improving lab safety.
1. Laboratory safety management plans must include physical as well as chemical exposure hazards.
2. Institutions should ensure that research-specific hazards are evaluated and mitigated.
3. Laboratory researchers need guidance documents to help manage hazardous chemicals that are unique to their research environments.
4. Research-specific written protocols and training are necessary to manage laboratory research risk.
5. Academic institutions must ensure that safety inspectors report directly to those with authority to implement improvements.
6. Incidents and near-misses should be documented, tracked, and communicated.
The full article can be read here. http://pubs.acs.org/cen/government/89/8943gov1.html
Chemical Safety Board of US recommends the following for improving lab safety.
1. Laboratory safety management plans must include physical as well as chemical exposure hazards.
2. Institutions should ensure that research-specific hazards are evaluated and mitigated.
3. Laboratory researchers need guidance documents to help manage hazardous chemicals that are unique to their research environments.
4. Research-specific written protocols and training are necessary to manage laboratory research risk.
5. Academic institutions must ensure that safety inspectors report directly to those with authority to implement improvements.
6. Incidents and near-misses should be documented, tracked, and communicated.
The full article can be read here. http://pubs.acs.org/cen/government/89/8943gov1.html
Chlorine leaks - impact on people's lives
Following is link that depicts shattering of many lives in US and this is true wherever chlorine and other chemicals are handled.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2011/chlorine-accidents
Instantaneous release of chlorine from normal tonners containing about 900 kg chlorine can impact living beings even at a distance of 10 km under worst conditions i.e overcast sky, no wind; with fatalities upto 1 km. Unless otherwise the safe handling procedures are not practiced, these chemicals are much danger than explosives that affect people and property only upto few meters whereas these chemical releases impact persons staying even hundreds of meters away.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2011/chlorine-accidents
Instantaneous release of chlorine from normal tonners containing about 900 kg chlorine can impact living beings even at a distance of 10 km under worst conditions i.e overcast sky, no wind; with fatalities upto 1 km. Unless otherwise the safe handling procedures are not practiced, these chemicals are much danger than explosives that affect people and property only upto few meters whereas these chemical releases impact persons staying even hundreds of meters away.
Oct 18, 2011
How to Measure the ROI of Your Safety Program
A link on measuring payback from safety program implementation is available below.
How to Measure the ROI of Your Safety Program
Though, many times it is difficult to calculate the money spent on safety program,cost of accident, benefits accrued by implementation of safety programme, with extra efforts one can calculate and prove that the organization benefits from a safety programme that gets wholehearted support from all.
The link for indicators to be observed is given below. Meaningful quantification of these indicators can help in calculating cost benefits to the organization.
http://www.safetyxchange.org/financing-safety/achievementbased-safety-metrics?utm_source=emailmarketer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3802
How to Measure the ROI of Your Safety Program
Though, many times it is difficult to calculate the money spent on safety program,cost of accident, benefits accrued by implementation of safety programme, with extra efforts one can calculate and prove that the organization benefits from a safety programme that gets wholehearted support from all.
The link for indicators to be observed is given below. Meaningful quantification of these indicators can help in calculating cost benefits to the organization.
http://www.safetyxchange.org/financing-safety/achievementbased-safety-metrics?utm_source=emailmarketer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3802
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Featured Post
Reduced my weight from 96 to 76 kg and tummy from 38-40 to 34-35 inches in about 9 months
I am working in the safety department of a government organization. As a part of the job, I used to go around and interact with person...
