31 March 2021
The Health and Safety Inspectorate has recently investigated an accident in which an employee sustained injuries whilst cutting through a diesel fuel drum. The serious risks associated with this type of work are well known with a number of reported fatalities both in the UK and worldwide where the drum or similar containers have exploded due to residual vapours within the drum igniting.
The photograph below taken during the investigation demonstrates the explosive force generated when the employee started to cut through the drum with a petrol cut-off saw.
Fig1: Explosion due to residual vapours and hot works
It is important to recognise that a container may appear empty but can still harbour sufficient liquid residue to give rise to an explosive vapour.
Alternative options to hot work would include:
- replacing the container rather than repairing, therefore eliminating the risk
- using cold cutting techniques or cold repair methods
If hot work is necessary, the risks should be avoided by using a specialist company or reduced by using methods such as gas-freeing, cleaning or inerting before hot working.
All employees engaged in hot works of this nature must have received adequate training in the risks involved and the precautions required.
Further guidance
Hot work on small tanks and drums from the HSE website.
MOT Centre sentenced after worker is fatally injured in oil drum explosion on the HSE website
A video highlighting the consequences when things go wrong on the HSE website.
Fig 2: Screen shot from video
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