Safety alert 09/2013 - Welding tanks containing flammable substances

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file type icon 09-2013 Welding tanks containing flammable substances

A worker used an electric arc welder to attach a bracket to a sealed metal tank. The tank had previously contained flammable liquids including methanol.  When the worker commenced tack welding the bracket to the outside of the tank, the tank started to make rumbling noises and an explosion occurred. The explosion blew the lid off the tank and pulled the tank supports out of the concrete floor. No-one was injured in this incident, but there was significant potential for serious injury or death. 

Contributing factors

  • The tank was drained before the welding commenced; however residual flammable liquid remained inside the tank. 
  • The tank was not cleaned or checked to ensure it was free of flammable substances before welding commenced.
  • The hot work permit did not specify that the tank needed to be cleaned or tested before welding commenced.      

Action required    

  1. Ensure a risk assessment is carried out before hot work is done to identify potential hazards and ways to control them.
  2. Do not conduct welding or other hot work on tanks or other containers that contain flammable substances.
  3. Ensure tanks or containers that have held flammable substances are drained and cleaned before hot work.
  4. Monitor the atmosphere inside tanks or containers to ensure there are no flammable vapours or gases before hot work. 
  5. Ensure hot work permits are used, and that they are relevant to the hazards of the particular workplace.
  6. Train staff about hot work hazards and how they are managed. Supervise staff (including contractors) to ensure safe work methods are followed. 

Further information

  • Australian New Zealand Standard 1674 – Safety in welding and allied processes
  • The Welding Technology Institute of Australia Technical Note No. 7 – Health and Safety in Welding
  • The Chemical Safety Board Safety Bulletin:  Seven Key Lessons to Prevent Worker Deaths During Hot Work In and Around Tanks, February 2010, available from www.csb.gov 

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This Alert contains safety information following inquiries made by WorkSafe about an incident or unsafe practice. The information contained in this Alert does not necessarily include the outcome of WorkSafe’s action with respect to an incident. WorkSafe does not warrant the information in this Alert is complete or up to date and does not accept any liability to any person for the information in this report or as to its use.

WorkSafe
Alert
Last updated 24 Mar 2016
First published 11 Mar 2014

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