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01/29/2012

Chlorine Hose Failure Addressed by NAHAD & CSB

Following a catastrophic incident in Festus, MO in 2002 involving a ruptured chlorine transfer hose, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) approached NAHAD to craft appropriate warning language within the NAHAD Hose Assembly Guidelines to address continuous positive hose identification.

Over the past several years, NAHAD’s Hose Safety Institute has worked with the CSB and the Chlorine Institute regarding this matter. The NAHAD Standards Committee  recently completed this task by including additional language into the Guidelines, as posted on the Hose Safety Institute web site.

Recently, Rafael Moure-Eraso, PhD, CIH, CSB Chairperson, sent the following letter to NAHAD, commending its efforts:

I am writing with regard to (a) CSB Recommendation issued to NAHAD following our investigation of a chlorine release incident at DPC Enterprises' facility in Festus, Missouri in August 2002, resulting from a catastrophic rupture of a chlorine transfer hose whose structural reinforcement braid layer was made of 316L stainless steel, rather than Hastelloy C-276.

Because such errors can result in catastrophic releases of highly toxic chlorine gas, the CSB recommended that NAHAD "Work with The Chlorine Institute and chlorine hose manufacturers …… to develop and   implement a recommended practice requiring continuous positive identification (e .g, coding,  stenciling, stamping) throughout the supply chain, from manufacturing to the end user of the product.

I am writing to inform you that the Board voted on January 4, 2012 to designate this recommendation with the status "Closed- Acceptable Action." This status reflects the Board's determination that NAHAD has met the intent of the CSB's recommendation. We were pleased to learn that NAHAD has incorporated language into its hose assembly guidelines to stress the importance of continuous positive identification and to reference the Chlorine Institute Pamphlet #6, Appendix A, as a resource for permanent markings for chlorine transfer hose. Thank you for your efforts to safeguard the health and safety of workers and the public at large

For more information on NAHAD’s Hose Safety Institute, visit www.nahad.org or www.hosesafetyinstitute.org.

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