Incident alert
LOCATION:
ASPHALT/COATING PLANT
ACTIVITY:
MANUAL HANDLING AND STORAGE
ALERT STATUS:
High Potential
DATE ISSUED:
12/11/2019 13:51:20
TITLE
Bitumen Spill due to Alarm Failure - Interim Alert
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
United Kingdom
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT DETAILS
The bitumen delivery driver arrived on site where he signed off the Bitumen Discharge Permit with the asphalt batcher.
As part of the permit he stated that the alarms were checked as part of the guidelines. The contents of the tank showed between 11.6 & 11.7t. this left 33.2t ullage with 6t spare. The delivery was for 27.06 of 100 / 150.
The driver then started his discharge & carried out his usual checks. During one of these he noticed steam coming from the overflow pipe & checked again to see bitumen coming from the overflow pipe. The discharge was shut down immediately & he informed the batcher.
There was only 37t showing on the gauge. The alarm went off once blowing the pipes clean & the gauge jumped to 38.6t. The amber warning light came on but no red light.
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT IMAGES
Click image to enlarge
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS TAKEN
The following day the installation / calibration contractor was on site carrying out testing of the alarm systems. They carried out a full investigation on the various alarm systems.
During the investigation they discovered no issues with the High, High alarm on Tank 1. This was tested using their recognised methods of testing. The probe from Tank 2 was fitted to Tank 1 & the alarm went off immediately.
A response is currently awaited from the contractor.
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS IMAGES
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