You've got to be careful...

[Russ Johnson]

I saw this on another board... thought I'd bring it over here to emphasize how one little slip can be dangerous.


01.16 USA Tampa, FL. A man received severe chemical burns when preparing to clean the tiled roof of a house in Hunter's Green, one of New Tampa's gated golf course communities. The man, who owns a pressure-washing company, climbed a ladder with a pressurised container of bleach and water, which exploded when he set it down, blowing a 750mm hole through the roof. Investigators later said the man poured chlorine [probably hypochlorite solution] and water into the container, which had previously been used to apply an acid wash. The container had not been properly rinsed, and the resulting chemical reaction caused the explosion.

 

[Paul B.]

Safety is always of high interest to me and should be for everyone, so don't get me wrong when I say I'm somewhat skeptical of the events as described. It is not impossible, but somewhat unlikely it happened the way it was described.

What makes me skeptical is:
- How many times would you see a hole described in an American paper as being 750mm in diameter? (Most unlikely.) 750mm = 75cm or 29.5" in diameter.

- "The container had not been properly rinsed, and the resulting chemical reaction caused the explosion."
In MOST cases a minute amount of acid combined with diluted bleach would not create such a violent reaction.
There had to be a SIGNIFICANT amount of acid in the container.

- "A man received severe chemical burns..." - the word SEVERE would again indicate a SIGNIFICANT amount of acid, rather than a container that was unrinsed.


Having said that, I also have to say:
- Do properly rinse containers before using it for different chemicals. For someone that does a lot of cleaning with acids, it would be highly recommended that a separate container be used and labeled as "Acid Cleaners Only!"
- Do not mix acid and bleach as this can create a poisonous gas called chlorine gas!
- If you use a pump up sprayer, make sure you have one that has a pressure relief valve (Hudson has models w/relief valves).
(Percarbonate based crystals when mixed with water will also create a reaction that will cause containers to become pressurized.)
- Again, use pressure relief devices on any enclosed system where chemicals will be used.


"Safety First and Make IT Last!"

 

[One Call Power]

I agree with Paul B on this one. We all know how the media will drum things up just to get a story. That apparently happened here. Good story though. If at the very least, those that read it will at least think about chem safety....

 

[Ron Musgraves]

when i was kid we used to build those bombs. can do that now days. I see how easy that could happen. you could cause and explosion just adding water to acid. water contains other minerals that react with the acid and become unknown. its that easyyyyy...