How to classify hazardous areas?

This is the question that many people ask themselves. There are so many standards and practices, so different from each other. You have the Class, Division & Group classification in North America and the Zone and Group system in Europe, Asia and Australia. The NEC also talks about Zones in Article 505 and there is … Read more

Hot work without a gas test-when will people ever learn?

Another accident has been reported due to negligence and lack of an understanding of hazardous materials and their properties. Fortunately there have been no fatalities, only two injuries, but they are severe and the victims have been hospitalized, reports the Merced Sun Star, in a news item dated April, 02, 2009. The two injured men … Read more

Fire and explosion at Bayer Cropscience facility-W.Virgina

On 29th Aug 2008, there was a large fire and explosion at a Bayer Cropscience facility near Charleston, W. Virginia.  A team from the US Chemical Safety baord reportedly visited the site after the accident, but they have not released any investigation report as of now. The exact cause of the accident remains unknown, but … Read more

Static Electricity Hazards-Mere bonding and grounding may not be enough!

Continuing with our series on the US Chemical Safety Board accident investigation videos, we discuss today the most insidous and hidden hazards in the chemical processing industry-Static Electricity. Why is static electricity so hazardous in chemical plants?  Simply because many inflammable liquids (like most solvents), tend to accumulate static charges on their surface, especially  when … Read more