[MCIC Safety] FW: Cool Vest Fire Incident

[Kareis, Michelle]

Forwarded from Texas Chemical Council Safety network.  If you have these
vests on site, now would be a good time to verify the manufacture dates
of the gel packs and replace as necessary.

 

On a side note, isn't it nice to know that it's not hot enough here yet
to need them?  :-)

 

Michelle

 

 

Michelle Kareis

EHS Manager

Vertellus Performance Materials

336-834-4903

mkareis at vertellus.com

________________________________

From: Araujo, Edu, Celanese/US [mailto:earaujo at bishopfacility.com] 
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 10:14 AM
Subject: Cool Vest Fire Incident

 

FYI, thanks to Earl

 

________________________________

From: Boring, Earl L. [mailto:Earl.Boring at Lyondell.com] 
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 8:23 AM

	FYI - For those that utilize cool vests.  Thanks to Manuel
Gonzales at Pontchartrain for bringing this to our attention! 
	
	----- Forwarded by Kevin L Roberts/HO/DuPont on 03/29/2007 08:58
AM ----- 
	
	  

	
________________________________


	
	We recently had an incident in which a Glacial Tech brand cool
vest, being worn by a welder, started to leak and the contents ignited.
As you know, cool vests are worn by workers in hot areas to help prevent
heat related illnesses.  In this case the welder had been wearing the
vest underneath his nomex and leathers, but over his street clothes,
when one of the cooling packets started to leak.  It appears that some
welding slag may have burned throgh the plastic packet, releasing the
liquid.  The liquid leaked onto the welder's clothes, and was ignited,
probably by the welding process.  Fortunately, the welder, with the aid
of the firewatch, was able to quickly extinguish the flames.  The welder
was uninjured. 
	  
	It turns out that prior to 2004, the liquid used in the cool
vests was a diesel type hydrocarbon with a freezing temperature of 64
degrees F.  Since 2004 the manufacturer has replaced that liquid with a
non-hazardous material.  We are in the process of retrieving all of our
vests and replacing them with the newer type.   
	  
	I would suggest that all refineries check their cool vests to
see if they have a similar situation and take steps to remove these
vests from service, or ensure that they are not used near ignition
sources. 
	  
	Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, 
	  
	Rich Leland 
	Health & Safety Manager 
	Tesoro Corporation 
	Golden Eagle Refinery 
	  
	(925) 370-3264  Office 
	(925) 766-4777  Cell 
	(925) 372-3052  Fax 
	  
	  
	 

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