April 27, 2015

Hydrochloric acid handbook

Occidental Chemical Corporation (Oxychem), as part of their Responsible Care initiative have brought out a good handbook on hydrochloric acid including design and safety aspects. You can read it in this link. 

Link has been updated now.

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April 24, 2015

Chlorine gas leak incident in 1991

 A FEMA report about a chlorine gas release in 1991 (70 Mt of chlorine escaped) mentions the following:
"Chlorine release caused by leak of brine from heat exchanger mixing with liquefied gas. Mixture created corrosive acid which ate through pipes when product was transferred from storage tank.Leak increased as acid ate larger hole in pipe.
Plant employees believed they could contain the leak. Fire department notified by passer-by who was unsure of source. Response delayed until second call provided additional information. Further delay caused by long response distance and several possible sources to check for hazardous materials (Hazmat) release.
Firefighters and plant personnel overcome when chlorine cloud moved in unexpected direction.Command post had to be relocated three times to avoid moving cloud. Some residents exposed during evacuation; over 200 examined at hospitals; 30 admitted."


 Read about the incident in this link.

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April 18, 2015

April 16, 2015

New eyewash shower and stations standard

 The International Safety equipment association has published a standard for eyewash showers and stations. It is a useful document. Read it by logging in this link

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April 10, 2015

Safety features at Kudankulam nuclear power plant by NPCIL

A good presentataion of the safety features at Kudankulam nuclear power plant by NPCIL  is available in this link 

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April 7, 2015

Blast in China Chemical Factory

Blast in China Chemical Factory -RT.com

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Another pump accident

'On Monday, January 28, 2002, a clean coal filter drain pump exploded due to steam build up within the pump, inflicting fatal injuries to the fine coal operator at a preparation plant of an underground mine. The victim was standing approximately 8 feet away at the on/off switch when the pump cover struck him. The pump overheated after almost all liquids had been pumped from the filter drain tank causing the remaining fines to solidify, thus preventing flow. The inlet and discharge lines then became clogged with coal fines causing the pump to become a closed pressure vessel".Read about the accident in this link.



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April 1, 2015

Incomaptibile chemicals cost you!

A radiation leak from a drum containing radioactive waste at an underground nuclear waste dump in New Mexico was caused by “chemically incompatible” contents, including cat litter, that reacted inside a barrel of waste and caused it to rupture. It is reported that cat litter containing silicates is purposely used as a stabilizing agent in nuclear storage for stabilizing radioactive nitrate salts. A scientist inadvertently used an organic brand of cat litter which does not contain silicates. After some days, the nitrate salts in the barrel heated up, releasing hot gases, pressurised the drum and ruptured it.
 The damage caused a  radiation leak that will cost approx. USD 240 million to clean up!
Read the report in the Telegraph in this link


This is not an April Fools day joke!!!!!

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