Chemical reactivity case histories

Case histories regarding reactive chemicals teach the importance of understanding the reactive properties of chemicals before working with them. The best source of data is the open literature. If data are not available, experimental testing is necessary. Data of special interest include decomposition temperatures, rate of reaction or activation energy, impact shock sensitivity, and flash point. 

Three general situations involving chemical reactivity hazards are described in this section. Examples of significant incidents are given for each situation. Additional case histories are summarized in Appendix A-l,... 

Appendices contain case histories of chemical reactivity incidents, a sample inherently safer process checklist, and the Executive Summary of the CSB hazard investigation report on "Improving Reactive Hazard Management (CSB 2002b). 

Case histories of chemical reactivity incidents, such as those in Appendix A-l, are useful in getting needed attention and priority for a chemical reactivity hazard management system. Other companies programs, such as the ones shared on the CD-ROM accompanying this publication, can be... 

Part of learning everything possible from previous incidents (so as not to repeat them ) is to study case histories that have been made available. For chemical reactivity incidents, many case histories have been published by the sources listed below. Also given in this appendix are extended abstracts of several recent incidents that are particularly instructive. 

Barton and Rogers (1997) gives a compilation of 100 brief case histories related to chemical reactivity incidents. These incidents are grouped according to the following summary causes ... 

The most likely cause of the incident was the decomposition of bulk sacks of the pesticide, which had been placed too close to a hot compressor discharge pipe, and the release of flammable vapors (USEPA-OSHA, 1999). This case history illustrates that severe reactive incidents can occur even at companies engaged in the simple storage and handling of chemicals. The facility was not covered by OSHA PSM, and AZM50W does not have an NFPA rating. 

These data contradict a common assumption that a majority of reactive incidents involve chemical reactor vessels. Chemical processing and storage equipment (excluding reactors) and bulk storage drums account for over 65 percent of the equipment involved in reactive incidents. The case histories highlighted throughout Section 3.0 are examples of reactive incidents that did not occur in reaction vessels. 

Bretherick s Handbook of Reactive Chemicals Summaries of reactivity, incompatibility, and other dangerous properties of individual substances either alone or in combination case histories Butterworth-Heinemann... 

A series of checklists is proposed to avoid such incidents in chemical processing operations, and an incompatibility chart for groups of reactive chemicals is given. The methods used for the analysis of the case histories are detailed in a separate... 

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