Many fire incidents have taken place while gas cutting of ship tankers and fatal incidence rate is also very high. In one such incident, 36 workers were working inside an empty oil tank of a ship of 17500 T capacity. Accidentally fire took place while gas cutting. All rubber gas pipes were burnt along with nine workers. Schedule 24 regarding safety from 'Gas cutting/welding' was added to the Gujarat Factories Rules as a consequence.
Safety measures necessary:
- Complete cleaning of flammable oil waste inside the tank,
- explosimeter test of inside air-gas mixture,
- proper lighting,
- ventilation and safe means of access inside the tank,
- safe welding torch with non-return valve and its checking before use,
- fire resistant gas pipes and
- preferably technique to cut the tank walls by remaining outside the tank and not inside (e.g. fill water inside and cut from outside proceeding from top to bottom).
Source: Indian Safety Professionals.
http://www.isplonline.com/firewhileshipbreaking.htm
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