A kiln technician was burned while lighting a gas fired kiln and succumbed to his injuries on 28 May , according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA’s) fourth fatality alert of 2018.
MSHA says: “There was a blow back when igniting the kiln and the miner received burn injuries to his head and chest.”
Best Practices:
- Remove flammable and combustible materials from areas prior to cutting, welding, or other hot work. A qualified person should monitor nearby areas where heavy vapors could migrate and accumulate.
- Ventilation systems should be properly designed, installed, and maintained.
- Install fixed monitoring systems with alarms in areas with potential for flammable and other hazardous atmospheres and calibrate and maintain them regularly. The systems should have redundant controls and system readouts located inside and outside of hazardous areas.
- Process equipment and systems should be properly designed and completely installed prior to use.
- Inerting systems should be properly designed, installed, adequately filled, and maintained.
- Do not work in areas where concentrations of vapors can be immediately fatal (Lower Explosive Limit), Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health, or where they exceed permissible exposure limits (PELs) to produce adverse health effects.
- Minimise or eliminate hazards by using appropriate engineering and administrative controls.
