Electrostatic ignitions in everyday chemical operations: Three case histories

In operations where there are flammable or combustible materials it is axio matic that all conductive equipment be firmly bonded and grounded. Even tho ugh vigilance to such matters may be exercised in a given operation there m ay be times when details are overlooked or deemed to be of no consequence; and in some cases, these details can have dire consequences. This paper set s forth three such case histories where proper grounding was not done and a n electrostatic ignition resulted. The first example is the drawing of a sample of toluene into a metal pail - a common, everyday operation which had been done many times before. The se cond example is pumping toluene into a reactor through a chemical hose wher e the stiffening wires were not bonded to the couplings, an "everyday" oper ation. The third example is the offloading of an aluminum powder from bulk truck - a one-time, makeshift operation these examples are discussed to giv e operators an appreciation for the vigilance required to keep all conducti ve objects grounded in chemical operations where flammable or combustible m aterials are present.