Safety Alerts
ICHCA International is committed to helping industry to learn lessons fast,
learn them once and make sure that they stay learnt.
This information is intended to provide all organisations in the cargo supply chain with the opportunity to consider the events and to review and adapt their own health and safety control measures to proactively prevent future incidents. We are grateful to all those who provide these alerts and acknowledge their commitment to sharing learning to benefit others.
Learning content like this is highly valuable as it is based on real-world experience. We encourage everyone with publishable information about incidents to send it to us, so that we can raise awareness across the whole industry. Please contact us at secretariat@ichca.com; sharing your insight could save a life or prevent injury.
Classification & Declaration of Divinylbenzene for Transport in Tank Containers
Some interests have been seeking to transport Divinylbenzene (DVB) from China to destinations in both Europe and United States of America, while mis-declaring the commodity as Class 9, UN 3082 ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, LIQUID, N.O.S. (Divinylbenzene). Divinylbenzene, though not specifically named in the Dangerous Goods regulations, is a liquid prone to Polymerisation. The IMDG Code includes a subdivision Class 4.1 for polymerizing substances with two UN numbers. Divinylbenzene (or related trade names, which may include Diethenylbenzene or Vinylstyrene) should be classified under one of these two numbers. Products with a polymerization risk generally use chemical inhibitors to prevent self-reaction taking place. Such chemical inhibitors are effective for a limited period of time at a maximum temperature of about 27°C, assuming [...]
Catastrophic failure of marine loading arm
Marine loading arms (MLAs) are commonly used throughout UK ports and jetties to load and unload liquids and compressed gas products from river barges, ships, and tankers. Evidence obtained during an HSE investigation of a failed MLA revealed concerns that not all components were being suitably inspected and maintained due to problems accessing the highest pivot joint. The lack of lubrication of this greased joint presents a serious risk of the joint failing with the potential for the complete collapse of the arm, leading to possible death, serious injury or damage to process equipment, and subsequent loss of containment. Anyone using or servicing MLAs should check, review and identify inspection and maintenance work required by the manufacturer and industry guidance. [...]
ICHCA Safety Alert: Flash Fire Inside Diesel Tank
Workers were assigned to remove and replace a 16’ x 9” section of deck plate adjacent to the bulkhead inside the diesel tank of a chemical tanker. Please click the link for the full Operational Alert: Flash Fire Inside Diesel Tank We are grateful to Signal Mutual for providing details of this incident and acknowledge their commitment to sharing learning to benefit others. If you have similar operations, please share this information with managers, operatives and any potentially affected third parties as appropriate. Please also review any of your relevant operations for similar hazardous conditions, risks, and controls. Learning content like this is highly valuable as it is based on real-world experience. We encourage everyone with publishable information about incidents [...]