"Waste Not, Want Not"
A hazardous waste drum for an alpha picoline spill has the following hazards checked:
Toxic - Checked
Flammable - Unchecked
Reactive/Corrosive - Checked
Ignitable - Checked
Anything Wrong?
Yes - SDS indicates material is Flammable.
Additionally, it is toxic, corrosive, and per the precautionary statements, needs to be kept away from ignition sources (ignitable).
Is the MP of Beta-2,5-Penta above or below 100 deg C?
What is above?
MP of Beta-2,5,-Penta is 125 - 127 deg C.
In 1979, Pittsburg suffered 2 fatalities, injuring 15 others, four seriously. The chemical process was supposed to occur at temps of 284 deg F and reached 464 deg F and was for FeCl2 catalyst production to make Symtet. A vapor cloud was observed after the explosion which was conjectured to be byproduct of ferric chloride reacting with water producing what hazardous chemical?
What is HCl?
What type of respiratory protection is needed for an inert atmosphere?
What is supplied air?
i.e. any sort of purifying respirator will not work since it is low O2.
The following are methods for ______ the removal of hazardous energy sources:
1. Opening drains and vents (LEOs)
2. Viewing pressure gauges, sight glasses, or level indicators
3. Confirming securement devices like locking pins are in place
4. Confirming that valves are holding
5. Confirming that rotating equipment parts like couplings, belts, chains, are removed
What is "Verifying?"
A hazardous waste drum must be filled. Dayshift operator fills drum and instructs night shift operator to please put on the barcode label that has been printed out and left on the shift change desk. Anything wrong?
Yes - barcode label with accumulation date must be applied to drum BEFORE any material is added.
What is a beta-Pyridine that has a freeze point of 125 deg C?
What is PCP?
In the 2007 Valero McKee Refinery incident with serious burns to contractors and employees, and the 2019 TPC Group Chemical Plant Explosion, both events were due to residual chemical sitting in stagnant lines at low points. These pieces of piping are called what?
What is: deadlegs?
What type of gloves are needed to be used with methylene chloride?
What is buty chemical resistant gloves?
If an isolation point is changed/removed/added during a job by a qualified operator, this document must also be updated.
What is the Master Red Tag Sheet?
The 30 gallon green drums must be shipped out as what type of waste?
What is: a dry solid?
i.e. enough solidasorb needs to be mixed to get contents completely dry - no sloshing.
If the freeze point of B26P is 90 deg C, what is its melting point?
What is 90 deg C?
Freeze point and melting point are the same. Freeze point is the temp for transition from liquid to solid, and melt point is the temp for transition from solid to liquid.
In September 2009, there was an explosion at a ConAgra Slim Jim Plant with 4 fatalities, 71 individuals hospitalized during a line purge with natural gas. As one of the contributing factors, workers had used their noses to attempt to detect presence of natural gas. What is a practice in the chemical industry that may have helped prevent this tragedy?
What is: atmospheric gas testing, specifically LEL monitoring?
Where should you doff your PPE if you are exposed?
i.e. - if there is a vapor cloud visible, doff your respirator after/when you are removed from the proximity of the cloud - not at the nearest safety shower that may still be within the expanding cloud.
If a chemical has a freeze point > 100 deg C, what is the risk during an isolation verification?
What is plugging?
There is some slight sloshing noted on a white 30 gal drum when attempted to be lifted with forklift to be staged for ship out. Anything wrong?
Yes - the 30 gal white drums must be shipped out as a dry solid. Enough solidasorb needs to be mixed in to ensure completely dry.
Is the MP of Alpha-3,4,5-Hex above or below 100 deg C?
What is above? The MP of Alpha-3,4,5-Hex is 102-103 deg C.
In both the 2005 BP Texas City Refinery Explosion and 2008 Bayer CropScience Facility, individuals did not follow the Standard Operating Procedures. What are some practices/policies we have in place to avoid such deviations?
What is: 1) PUP - Procedure Use Policy, 2) Turning in Completed Procedures, 3) Submitting procedure notes when needed so procedures are up to date, 4) Procedure Review Practice for Operators, Engineers, and TAs.
What is the most important thing to remember when doffing contaminated head gear, but particularly goggles/respirators?
What are two generally acceptable ways to verify that a valve is holding?
What are:
1) Checking a pressure gauge
2) Observing a drain valve (that is not plugged) flows through and then stops.
No - the drum needs to be moved to drum storage area within 3 days. Operator moved the drum within the expected span of time.
In general, will impurities increase or decrease a melting point?
In general, impurities will both decrease and broaden a melting point.
If a mixture exists, the mixture will likely melt both below and up to the highest melting point impurity.
In both the 2005 BP Texas City Explosion and 2008 Bayer CropScience Facility event, deviation from SOPs resulted in fatalities. Can you guess during what activities these events occurred?
What were: Startup activities?
What is the minimum PPE required for a LEO that may contain Cl2?
What is: Supplied Air Respirator, White Chemical Protective Suit (Tychem 4000/Saranex/SL or ChemMax 2), Chemical Resistant Boots, Butyl Chemical Resistant Gloves?
What is the new guidance added to the Generic Line Isolation and Line Opening LEO Procedure?
What is: "If chemical service has freeze point >= 100 deg C, and there is > 100 ft of line on either side of the line break, there must be a drain valve open on each section of line > 100 ft"