Industrial Fire Prevention

"...had no sprinkler systems, stored the chemical in wooden bins and did not report to local emergency responders the potential hazards of storing tons of ammonium nitrate because the law does not require them to do so..." Fertilizer Plant Explosion Investigators Report Lax Regulation of Chemicals HOUSTON (AP) — A federal agency investigating a deadly explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant will tell a Senate committee Thursday that regulation of the dangerous chemicals used in the industry fall under a "patchwork" of standards that are decades old and are far weaker than rules used by other countries. The damage from the fertilizer plant explosion is seen from helicopters in accompanying President Barack Obama in West, Texas, in this April 25, 2013 file photo. The U.S Chemical Safety Board will tell a Senate committee Thursday June 27, 2013 that regulation of the dangerous chemicals used in the industry fall under a “patchwork” of stand...

 From our friends at ThomasNet. How Can Manufacturers Reduce the Risk of Dust Fires and Explosions? How Can Manufacturers Reduce the Risk of Dust Fires and Explosions? by Ahvi Spindell | June 26th, 2013     Combustible dust fires are an ever-present risk in processing industries across the country and are a much bigger problem than reported by the federal government. These combustible dust fires are often precursors to catastrophic explosions. In fact, most dust can be combustible under the right circumstances.  In 2012, Astad’s institute reported results from a preliminary analysis of 2011 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) data obtained from the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). The report detailed 500-plus combustible-dust-related fires and explosions in many industrial sectors throughout the U.S. The majority of incidents were classified as “near-misses,” meaning they did not result in injuries or fatalities. NFIRS is a volu...

combustible dust - USDOL OSHA Public Web Site Search Results Combustible Dust - An Explosion Hazard www.osha.gov/dsg/.../index.html Any combustible material can burn rapidly when in a finely divided form. If such a dust is suspended in air in the right concentration, under certain conditions ...   Combustible Dust in Industry: Preventing and Mitigating the ... www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib073105.html Additional Elements Needed for a Combustible Dust Explosion : 4. Dispersion of dust particles in sufficient quantity and concentration; and, 5.   [PDF] Combustible Dust www.osha.gov/.../combustibledustposter.pdf combustible dust locations. PreventionMeasures The facility has separator devices to remove foreign materials capable of igniting combustible dusts.   Combustible Dust - An Explosion Hazard - Occupational Safety and ... www.osha.gov/dsg/.../guidance.html OSHA Guidance. The following OSHA publications contain voluntar...

From our friends at Baghouse.com Dust Collector Fire and Explosion Highlights Need for Combustible Dust Considerations In System Design A massive fire and explosion in the dust collection system of a New Hampshire wood pellet manufacturer demonstrates the need for adequate system design to prevent combustible dust explosions in general industry. May 16 2012 – Baghouse.com Editorial | We recently published a news article on Environmental-Expert.com about OSHA’s enforcement actions concerning last year’s combustible dust fire and explosion at the New England Wood Pellet Company’s Jaffrey, New Hampshire wood pellet plant. On October 20 2011, a combustible dust fire began in the wood pellet cooler, most likely caused by a spark or ember from the pellet hammer mill. The fire then spread through the ductwork throughout the plant, eventually reaching the dust collector causing it to explode. When the collector exploded, the explosion vented through the baghouse’s explosio...

CSB Releases Video Documenting the Blast Damage in West, Texas - Investigations - News | the U.S. Chemical Safety Board CSB Releases Video Documenting the Blast Damage in West, Texas On May 3, 2013, U.S. Chemical Safety Board investigator Jerad Denton took a film crew into West, Texas, to document the level of community damage from the fertilizer explosion that killed 14 and injured about 200 others. This 3-minute video shows the devastation.  Also see:           New CSB video provides an up-close-and-personal look at damage from the recent Texas plant explosion The Chemical Safety Board (CSB), the federal agency charged with investigating industrial accidents, recently released a video underscoring the damage from the ammonium nitrate fertilizer explosion in West, Texas, that killed 14 people and injured about 200 others. Narrated by a CSB investigator, the video illustrates the destruction of schools, residences, a ...

Metal Dust Ignites Fire at Manufacturing Facility From Harrington Group, Inc.  Metal Dust Ignites Fire at Manufacturing Facility Posted on Thursday, March 28th, 2013  Earlier this month, metal dust ignited and burned inside duct work at a RSA Engineered Products manufacturing facility. RSA designs and manufactures components and assemblies for military and commercial aircraft OE manufacturers, systems integration companies, and several government entities around the world. Their products have been a part of various types of aircraft for over 50 years. The fire in the Simi Valley facility was reported around 10am on March 5 th when employees noticed smoke coming from a vent in the ceiling and called 911. Approximately 70 employees were evacuated from the facility, but no one was injured.  About 40 firefighters, police officers, and hazmat team members reported to the scene. According to fire department officials, the machine sho...

Fire at Wooden Pallet Yard Causes $2.5M in Damages From Harrington Group, Inc. Fire at Wooden Pallet Yard Causes $2.5 Million in Damages  Posted on Friday, June 15th, 2012 In May, a fire ripping through a 10-acre wooden pallet yard and spreading to a nearby tire center, caused an estimated $2.5 million in damages. Nearby residents were evacuated, but thankfully, no one was injured. The fire started at Pallet Market, Inc. in Fontana, California. Pallet Market supplies wooden pallets and pallet related services to various industries, including food, office, and logistics. The business opened 10 years ago will have to close, at least temporarily, until they can figure out what to do next. Pallet Market employed 60 people. Authorities say the yard was full of thousands of dry wooden pallets, stacked hundreds high. Residents said that smoke could be seen for miles.Flames burned 80 feet high and took over five hours to get under control. App...