The Linde Group’s African Oxygen Limited (Afrox) has warned of gaseous hazards in confined spaces, offering detailed risk assessments and assessment reports to combat potentially dangerous, atmospheric situations.
Confined spaces, such as pipelines, columns, silos and cold boxes, are typically opened for maintenance, cleaning or inspection purposes with the company’s Application Development Manager of Cutting, Heating and Safety Hennie van Rhyn advising extreme caution for any oxy/fuel or welding application used in those constricted spaces.
He said, “Any fuel gas leak could create an explosive mixture with air in the confined space and any ignition or open flame will cause serious explosions. This is one area in the industry that really gets neglected as far as safety is concerned with using oxygen (O2), fuel gases and equipment in confined spaces.”
O2 deficiency, which could lead to loss of consciousness and even death, occurs at less than 19.5%, whereas O2 enrichment greater than 23% will accelerate combustion in the presence of an ignition.
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