Blocked Bitumen Tank Vent Pipes
LOCATION:
ASPHALT/COATING PLANT
ACTIVITY:
PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
SUB ACTIVITY:
ASPHALT & COATED STONE
TITLE
Blocked Bitumen Tank Vent Pipes
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
WHAT HAPPENED
Two incidents have occurred involving blocked vent pipes.
1. During a CONVENTIONAL pressurised discharge, air was unable to vent from the storage tank causing bitumen to be forced out of the lid of the tank. It was fortunate that the bitumen sprayed away from the delivery driver.
2. At an asphalt plant equipped with a GROUND-BASED PUMP, normal production pumping of bitumen from tank to mixer created a vacuum due to a blocked vent pipe preventing airflow into the tank. The result was an inward collapse of the tank.
ACCIDENT / INCIDENT IMAGES
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS TAKEN
Both these incidents illustrate the importance of ensuring that bitumen storage tanks are ADEQUATELY VENTED at all times.
Have you seen/read the RBA-QPA Guidance on Safe Bitumen Tank Managment? Click on "Hot Topics" and type "bitumen tank" in the Keyword Search box.
LEARNING POINTS / ACTIONS IMAGES
LOCATION:
ASPHALT/COATING PLANT
ACTIVITY:
PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
SUB ACTIVITY:
ASPHALT & COATED STONE
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