Hot work on tanks

Two boat yard workers were injured when petrol fumes in the bilges of an aluminium boat exploded. One of the workers had been welding a pipe. His welding torch ignited the fumes. The boat was damaged beyond repair and the men were lucky not to have been killed.

This accident scenario has been played out countless times in boat building yards, on farms, and in home workshops. Typically, someone decides to cut the top of an empty 44-gallon drum using gas cutting gear. A violent explosion ensues, causing multiple injuries to the person - injuries that may be fatal.

What happens is that traces of some substance such as tar or paint inside the drum volatilise with the heat from the torch and explode when the critical concentration is reached. Even if a drum has been empty and exposed to the weather for years, it can still contain enough hazardous material in the crevices to cause an explosion.

Want to know how to perform hot work on drums and tanks safely? Check out our excellent booklet Hot Work on Drums and Tanks. Good luck and happy hot work!