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1. The prevention of steam explosions due to melted high-temperature substances
a. Structure of buildings where melted high-temperature substances are
handled
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(a) |
Floor surface shall be so constructed as to prevent water from gathering.
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(b) |
Roofs, walls and windows,etc shall be so constructed as to prevent rain
water from entering.
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b. Pits handleing melted high-temperature substances.
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(a) |
The pits shall be so constructed as to prevent underground water from entering
(except for those in which facilities are installed to discharge underground
water).
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(b) |
The pit shall have partitions or other facilities around them to preb\vent
working water or rain watr from entering.
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c. Water processing of high-temperature slag
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The following measures shall be taken at places where high-temperature
slag is processed with water or disposed of.
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(a) |
Water can easily be discharged in such places.
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(b) |
Signs shall be posted to indicate slags are disposed there.
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d. Confirmation necessary for scrap metal to be thrown into metal melting
furnace
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Scrap metal shall be checked to confirm that no water, gunpowder, dangerous
substances or airtight containers are included.
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e. Prevention of burns, etc..
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Workers shall wear the personal protective equipment when they handle a
large amount of high-temperature materials.
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2. Control of fires, etc.
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- Use of fires, etc., prohibited
Fires and machines that are likely to cause sparks, electric arcs or high
temperatures leading to ignition source shall not be used at places where
explosions or fires are likely to occur because of the existence of combustible
dust (other than dangerous substances), gunpowder, a large amount of combustible
materials or dangerous substances.
- Use of explosion-proof machines
Explosion-proof machines with explosion-proof capabilities meeting the
specific types of vapor, gas, or dust must be used at places where the
danger of explosions may be expected due to the fact that flammable vapors,
combustible gases or dust can reach certain concentrations even when steps
such as ventilation or aeration are taken.
- Welding of pipes or containers
Welding, melt-cutting or other operations involving the use of fire shall
not be carried out on pipes, tanks, drums or other containers that may
contain flammable oils (other than dangerous substances), combustible dust,
or dangerous substances unless measures are taken to prevent explosions
or fires.
- Prohibition of ventilation or aeration by oxygen
Oxygen shall not be used for ventilation or aeration at places where ventilation
or aeration is inadequate at times when welding, melt-cutting or heating
of metals, dry grinding with whetstones, metal- or rock cutting with chisels
or other operations that are likely to cause sparks are carried out.
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3. Prevention of electrostatic accidents
- Use of clothing, etc., designed for preventing electrostatic accidents
Workers shall be required to use clothing and shoes designed for preventing
electrostatic charges at places where electrostatic accidents are likely
to occur.
- Release of static electricity
Static electricity shall be released from the following facilities by the use of ground wires, anti-electrostatic chemicals, moisturizing, or anti-electrostatic equipment:
| (a) |
Facilities used to inject dangerous materials into tank trucks or drums.
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| (b) |
Facilities used to store dangerous materials including tank trucks or drums.
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| (c) |
Facilities used to apply paints or adhesives containing flammable materials..
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| (d) |
Industrial dryers used to dry dangerous materials or materials that are
likely to generate dangerous materials.
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| (e) |
Facilities used to transport combustible granules or powdery materials
by spout or to sift such substances.
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| (f) |
Other chemical facilities or their attached facilities.
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4. Fire-extinguishing equipment, etc.
- Fire-extinguishing equipment, etc.
Fire-extinguishing equipment shall be provided at places where buildings,
chemical facilities, industrial dryers exist or where dangerous materials
are handled.
- Fire-protection measures
A distance necessary for fire protection shall be provided between a furnace,
heating device, iron stack or other equipment that may cause a fire, and
a building or other combustible objects. Otherwise such combustible objects
shall be protected using insulating materials.
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5. Industrial dryers
- Structure
The outside and inside walls as well as the inside shelves of a an industrial
dryers shall be made of non-combustible materials. Its upper structure
shall be made of lightweight materials, and doors or pressure-release holes
for explosions shall be installed.
The structure also shall be capable of discharging to the outside any gases, vapors or dust that is generated as a result of drying operations if they are likely to explode or ignite.
Peep windows, manholes, exhaust holes or other openings shall be installed
at locations where they can be used for preventing the spread of fires.
They shall be so structured that they can be immediately closed when necessary.
Instruments for measuring or adjusting inside temperatures shall be installed.
Direct fires shall not be used as a heat source.
- Appointment of operations chiefs
Operation chiefs of industrial dryers shall be appointed for operations
at facilities (with an internal volume of one cubic meter or more) to dry
dangerous materials or materials likely to emit dangerous materials, or
other industrial dryers that use fuel as heat source (ten kilograms/hour
or more of solid fuels, ten liters/hour of liquid fuel and one cubic meter
or more of gaseous fuels) or use electricity (limited to those with a rated
power consumption of ten kilowatt or more). These operations chiefs are
required to perform the following duties:
| (a) |
Providing instructions to workers concerning the relevant working methods
and directly leading operations.
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| (b) |
Taking the necessary measures when any inadequacy is found in industrial
dryers or related facilities.
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| (c) |
Undertaking inspections of the facility's internal temperatures, ventilating
conditions, and dried material conditions, and immediately implementing
the necessary measures if any abnormalities are detected.
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| (d) |
Always keeping locations where drying facilities are installed in neat
and clean condition and avoiding storing combustible materials nearby
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- Periodic voluntary inspections
Periodic voluntary inspections shall be conducted at least once a year
and the results of inspections and repairs shall be kept for three years.
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6. Manifold-type gas welding equipment
The following measures shall be taken for manifold-type gas welding equipment
(equipment connecting ten or more combustible gas vessels with pipes, and
equipment connecting nine or fewer combustible gas vessels with pipes if
the internal volume of all vessels totals 400 liters or more for hydrogen
or acetylene).
- Installation location, etc.
| (a) |
Equipment shall be located at places with a distance of five meters or
more from fires.
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| (b) |
Equipment other than movable units shall be installed in a dedicated room
(gas equipment room).
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| (c) |
Measures shall be taken to discharge any gases that may leak from any containers
in the gas equipment room. The roof and ceiling of the gas equipment room
shall be structured with light and non-combustible materials.
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- Piping
| (a) |
Gaskets shall be used at portions connecting flanges, valves or cocks to
tightly connect these parts.
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| (b) |
Safety devices shall be installed in mains and branches. Two or more safety
devices shall be installed in a blowpipe.
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| (c) |
Copper or alloys containing 70 percent or more copper shall not be used
for distribution pipes and/or attached equipment.
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- Management
| (a) |
The name of the gas under use and its maximum storage volume shall be posted
at easy-to-see locations.
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| (b) |
A gas welding operations chief shall be present at places when gas containers
are replaced.
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| (c) |
Smoking, fires or activities that are likely to emit sparks shall be prohibited
at places within five meters from the equipment and the notice of prohibition
shall be posted.
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| (d) |
The operational and inspection outlines for valves and cocks shall be posted
at easy-to-see locations.
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| (e) |
Gas and oxygen pipes shall be clearly marked.
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| (f) |
Workers shall be required to use protective glasses and protective gloves.
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- Operations chiefs of gas welding:
| (a) |
Determine operational methods and direct such operations.
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| (b) |
Provide orders to workers to remove oil and dust adhering to gas vessels
caps or pipe connecting points;
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| (c) |
Require workers to inspect gas leakage after vessels replacements Inspections
shall be made safely by using soapy water;
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| (d) |
Attend gas vessels replacements;
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| (e) |
Inspect hoses, blowpipes, hose bands and other devices before starting
operations and carrying out the necessary repairs;
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| (f) |
CInspect safety devices at least once every day; and
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| (g) |
Monitor the use of protective glasses and protective gloves by workers.
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- Regular voluntary inspections
Regular voluntary inspections shall be conducted at least once every year on manifold-type gas welding equipment and the results of such inspections and repairs shall be kept for three years.
(Note: Although there also are regulations concerning acetylene welding
equipment (including acetylene generators), these regulations are omitted
here as they are rarely used now.).
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(Regulations concerning Prevention of accidents in cargo handling operations will be discussed in the next session)
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