IAMU Informer
Follow IAMU!
  • Informer News Feed
  • IAMU Website

Toolbox Talk - Oily Rags

10/4/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Many people do not believe that oily rags can ignite all by themselves without the presence of an ignition source, such as a spark or lighted match. However, oily rags stored in a waste can or thrown in a pile on the floor can ignite even without any help from a separate ignition source. This is known as spontaneous combustion.

Spontaneous combustion occurs when a combustible material, including liquid, is heated to its ignition temperature by a chemical reaction involving the oxygen in the air around the material. This heating process is known as self-heating. In the case of oily rags, it’s a simple process of oil oxidizing to generate heat, which will continue to build up until combustion occurs. Generally, this can happen when the materials are left in piles, which provide a source of insulation, trapping the heat that is generated.

The possibility of spontaneous combustion increases when the surrounding air is also warm and dry. Also, heat radiating from nearby sources, such as machinery or a non-insulated steam line, can accelerate the process by heating both the materials and the surrounding air.

It is simple to prevent spontaneous combustion of oily rags. They should always be stored in a metal safety can with a self-closing lid manufactured specifically to hold oily rags. OSHA requires that this can be emptied every day. This smaller can may be emptied into a larger metal container (55- or 60-gallon barrel) as long as the lid is sealed and is located in an outbuilding, detached garage, or shed outdoors.

The largest high-rise fire in modern U.S. history started as a result of the spontaneous combustion of oil-soaked rags left in a pile by contractors working in the building. The fire occurred in Philadelphia on February 23, 1991, on the 22nd floor of the 38-story Meridian Bank Building. The fire started in a vacant 22nd floor office in a pile of linseed oil-soaked rags left by a contractor and resulted in the death of three firefighters and injuries to 24 other firefighters. The 12 alarms brought 51 engine companies, 15 ladder companies, 11 specialized units, and more than 300 firefighters to the scene.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

      Subscribe To The Informer

      You can subscribe to The Informer by adding the RSS feed to your feed reader. Or, to request to be added to our weekly email blast, provide your information below.  NOTE-you must be an IAMU member (utility, affiliate, or associate) to receive the email blast.
    Submit

    Archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    RSS Feed

Picture

Copyright 2018 Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities