Fires, explosions and gas leaks are an unfortunately common part of the industrial workplace. Whether it's a warehouse, oil plant or manufacturing facility, industrial sites are in general far more prone to incidents than other work environments. In any industrial setting, employee safety should be the top priority, and workers should never be put in any more danger than their job requires. In order to keep everyone safe and to prevent damage, follow the tips below and stay alert.
Prepare for gas leaks
Every workplace has a different level of danger, and so risks should be analyzed and a plan made from there. For factories that use an explosive gases, combustible gas leak detectors should be installed prominently so that any potential danger can be thwarted if a leak were to occur.
Hydrogen, for example, is both regularly used in industrial workplaces and highly explosive. This gas is often used in petroleum and chemical processes, and in operations as seemingly innocuous as making margarine from liquid vegetable oil. The substance is also utilized in more complex operations – hydrogen is used to create methanol and hydrochloric acid, which are both present in every day cleaning products.
Hydrogen is necessary in industrial settings, but it can also be deadly, The gas is colorless and odorless and is extremely flammable. In large quantities in enclosed areas, it can asphyxiate anyone nearby. If a job site uses hydrogen in any form, toxic gas detectors should be put in place and all workers should know to swiftly evacuate the building and alert emergency services if the alarm sounds.
Prepare for fires
All homes, schools and workplaces should be prepared for fires, but the risk of explosion is much higher on industrial sites. The federally run Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that all workplaces have enough emergency exits to safely and quickly evacuate all employees in case of emergency. OSHA also requires the presence of industrial fire alarms across the premises as well as an evacuation plan that is explained well to all staff members.
In addition to standard fire alarms, the use of UV flame detectors is also recommended, as they are explosion-proof and can add another element of protection in any comprehensive fire safety plan.
Industrial Safety News brought to you by Safety Systems Technology, Inc., leaders in fire and gas detection systems.
