Static electricity solvent hazard

When organic solvents are being conveyed, particularly at a high rate of flow, pipes should be adequately earthed to prevent static electricity building up this may present a fire or explosion hazard. 

The choice for floor covering materials depends on the kind of activities. As an example, in a preparation room where iodine or organic solvents will be processed, the floor should be chemically resistant in the first place. When processing inflammable products the generation of sparks due to static electricity has to be prevented. For aseptic handling chemical resistance of course is much less important. The primary emphasis for a floor in a premise for handling radiopharmaceuticals or other very hazardous substances, is on suitability for thorough and effective decontamination and disinfectirm. 

Adhesive containers should be labeled with the appropriate hazard symbols. In the storage facilities, no ignition sources should be present or allowed to come into contact with the solvents or their fumes, and the generation of sparks should be avoided. Additionally, electrical equipment is required to be explosion proof, and all containers should be earthed. It is also mandatory for personnel to be equipped with safety shoes having conductive soles to minimize the accumulation of static electricity. Similarly, production equipment or vehicles should not generate any sparks. 

A new electrically conductive gjove made of "Velostat is said id be the solution for use during static hazardous operations. The gloves drain off static charges when the wearer is grounded. Chemically resistant, they are claimed to provide protection from acids, alkalies, and other contaminants that can cause injury. Manufacturer especially recommends disposable gloves for those working with flammable solvents, powders, liquids, and dusts... 

These effects were very unpleasant to consumers, and the problem became more acute as synthetic fibers became more popular. Much more serious are the fire and explosion hazards created by static charge if clothes produce electric sparks in an atmosphere of a flammable solvent. 

The vapors of the organic solvents used in the preparation of cellulose ester solutions represent a potential fire, explosion, or health hazard. Care should be taken to provide adequate ventilation to keep solvent vapor concentrations below the explosive limits. Mixing equipment should be designed to ensure that solvent temperatures do not approach their flash point during the mixing cycle. All equipment must be electrically grounded to prevent static discharge, and appropriate precautions should be followed as recommended by the manufacturer of the solvents. 

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