“A recent marine casualty, resulting in a fire and severe injuries to two crewmembers, highlights the risks associated with Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), performing hot work in hazardous zones, and the necessity of maintaining a robust lockout/tagout program.”
hot work
USCG Marine Safety Alert: Warning: Ensure a Gas-Free Environment Prior to Conducting Hot Work
“Coast Guard Sector Honolulu and Hawaii State Fire Investigators are examining a recent marine
diesel fuel tank explosion on an uninspected commercial fishing vessel (CFV) moored for
maintenance at a state-regulated facility. The explosion injured five individuals and resulted in
one fatality.Preliminary findings reveal that the vessel did not adhere to the “Hot Works” permit guidelines
issued by the State Department of Transportation (DOT), which authorized work on a water tank
hatch, engine room stairs, and spotlights. Witnesses confirmed welding was performed on a fuel
tank vent pipe that was neither certified gas-free nor “Safe for Hot Work” by a certified marine
chemist, as required by the permit. Consequently, diesel fuel vapors ignited, causing the
explosion.”
New NFPA References
The following NFPA Fact Sheets have just been released: NFPA Fact Sheet: Marine Industry & Shipyard Hot Work NFPA Fact Sheet: Marine Industry & Shipyard Confined Space Entry & Work These resources define hot work, discuss confined spaces and the recognition, evaluation, and control of hazards presented by these, outline when a Marine Chemist is … Read more
New Resource – OSHA Publications
We have added a new resource to our OSHA Publications page. OSHA Fact Sheet: Safely Performing Hot Work on Hollow or Enclosed Structures in Marine Terminals was released earlier this month. It defines hollow or enclosed structures and lists some examples, identifies some hazards and sources of flammable or explosive atmospheres workers may encounter when working … Read more