After putting an underground type gasoline tank on the rails to be cut into pieces, John checked the tank by looking through a four-inch hole in the side of the tank and detected a strong odor of fumes. Bob Smith also checked and said it was mostly water. Bob followed the usual procedure prior to cutting a tank by placing the lighted torch at the bottom of the tank and removing himself about 30 feet down the track until a hole had been made in the tank. If any fumes were present and an explosion occurred, it would be vented through the two vent holes already punched into the sides of the tank. John saw Bob walk back to the tank and pick up the torch, he heard an explosion and saw Bob lying between the tracks and beneath the end of the tank which had blown off. People! Flammable liquids are among the most lethal potentially dangerous fire hazards imaginable, and almost every plant uses them! Flammable liquids have a low flash-fire point. Their vapors are highly sensitive to the slightest spark. Static electricity alone can set them ablaze. Then how do we avoid a possible holocaust when dealing with such extremely volatile chemical substances? Let’s identify some problem areas so that corrective action can be taken.
People, these are just a sample of prevalent conditions that may exist in our place of employment. I am quite sure some of these conditions do exist here. It is up to us, you and I, to be very conscious of the immediate danger imposed by improper fire prevention and lack of respect for flammable liquids.