Document gwwp63kLn6oE2zKqrJKvYbMQ

MANUAL HANDLING AND STORAGE OF MATERIALS An automatic sprinkler head, protected by a basket guard, may be installed made the bin. Thu installation u especially de sirable where a falling cover, released by the melting of a fusible link, might injure a person caught underneath Problems with Hazardous Materials Storage and handling of specific hazard ous materials are discussed in other chap ters gases in Chapter 29, "Welding and Cutting", flammable liquids (including re frigerants) in Chapter 32, "Flammable and Combustible Liquids" radioactive ma terials in Chapter 42, "Ionizing Radiation " Liquids Tanks The structure of a new building is designed with an ample safety factor to permit supporting the weight of process tanks However, inspection by a competent structural engineer should he made before a tank is installed in an old budding Stor age tanks for hazardous liquids are prefer ably installed outdoors above or below ground There are many advantages m under ground installation of outdoor storage tanks, however the danger of undetected leaks in tanks containing corrosive or tone materials probably outweighs the advantage of freedom from dnps and sprays When an outdoor tank is located in a pit, the pit should be large enough to permit easy ac cess to all parts of the tank A permanent ladder and an access door which can be fastened shut should be provided No one should be permitted to enter a pit without an approved type of supplied air mask or hood or oxygen breathing appa ratus unless tests have established the pres ence of enough oxygen and the absence of dangerous amounts of toxic vapors In any case, a worker who enters a pit should wear a safety belt with attached lifeline and a similarly equipped observer should be sta tioned to watch him Process tanks that will contain corrosive liquids should not be installed in basements If tanks are overhead and employees roust walk beneath them, drip pans should be provided with drainage to a safe disposal or recovery location Tanks should be installed where traffic cannot pass under them Tanks should be provided with perma nent stairs or ladders and walkways with standard guardrails and toeboards Tanks should be emptied, cleaned, and inspected for structural weaknesses at regular inter vals, and records kept of each inspection. Tanks for holding volatile materials should be bonded and grounded, and pro vided with vents and safety valves Fur a large tank, rupture disks or lightweight covers may also be provided Safety valves and rupture disks should discharge at a point remote from the tank and from sources of ignition and areas that are or may be inhabited Even tanks containing nonvolatile mate rials should have safety valves and rupture disks in case of fire, because the expansion of the air may rupture the tank Enclosed tanks should have emergency venting equip ment capable of handling increases in pres sure which may develop as a result of the processes earned on in them Considera tion must be given to the effects of corro sion m applying venting devices to process equipment Connections for filling and emptying tanks are preferably made through the top to minimize loss of liquid and possibility of injury from a broken fitting The fill line should be equipped with a dram If com pressed air is used as the source of power for filling and emptying tanks, MCA speci fications0 for the maximum air pressures to be used for various materials should be observed Cleaning tanks is an exceedingly danger ous operation. An exact and specific proce dure should be set up, preferably m written form, and strictly adhered to Specifica tions for tank-cleaning procedure are set forth in an NFPA standard and API pub lications 00 Manufacturing Chemists' Association, 1825 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D C Manual Sheets TC Series (on unload ing hazardous liquids from tank cars) e"National Fixe Protection Association, 60 Batterymarch St, Boston Small Tanks and Containers Standard No 327. And American Petroleum Institute, 1271 Ave of the Americas, New York City Cleaning Petroleum Storage Tanks Accident Pre vention Manuals 1-A and 1-B 17-14