Preventing Hazards in the Use of Water Spray (Fog) Streams to Prevent or Control Ignition of Flammable Atmospheres

NIOSH requests assistance in disseminating the results of this investigation to personnel of fire departments, HAZMAT teams personnel, fire training academies, and other emergency response organizations. The investigation concerns an incident which occurred as a hazardous material (HAZMAT) team responded to a “man down” emergency in a storage tank recently emptied of toluene. To gain immediate access to the tank to rescue the victim, members of the team began to saw an opening in the side of the tank while blanketing the area being cut with water fog, both inside and outside the tank. An explosion occurred which instantly killed one HAZMAT team member and injured 15 others.

Request for Assistance: Preventing Hazards in the Use of Water Spray (Fog) Streams to Prevent or Control Ignition of Flammable Atmospheres