High temperatures, heavy rain, and lightning strike simultaneously! Guidelines for Preventing and Controlling Summer Safety Risks in Chemical Enterprises

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Overall, the safety prevention and control measures for chemical enterprises in summer should focus on implementing targeted strategies and taking comprehensive precautions against the three main challenges of high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and lightning. In hot weather, during the production process it is essential to prevent equipment from overheating and reactions from getting out of control. Regular inspections of the cooling systems should be carried out to avoid potential safety hazards such as power outages and the release of toxic gases ； In the storage and transportation phase, the management of hazardous chemicals must be strictly regulated; exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided. Measures such as insulation for warehouses and cooling systems for storage tanks should be implemented, and loading and unloading operations should be carried out away from the peak heat of midday ； In terms of personnel management, it is necessary to scientifically adjust working hours, ensure an adequate supply of heatstroke prevention supplies, and strictly prevent issues such as heatstroke among workers, physical fatigue leading to operational errors, and violations of safety regulations. In the face of sudden heavy rain, it is crucial to prevent three main risks: waterlogging and flooding, reactions of materials when exposed to water, and electrical short circuits. Enterprises must proactively maintain their factory drainage systems, stock up on various flood prevention supplies, promptly halt operations involving water-sensitive materials, strictly control any sewage overflows, and prevent all kinds of secondary safety incidents. In response to thunderstorm weather, it is crucial to implement lightning protection and operational control. Thoroughly inspect and rectify any potential issues with lightning protection and grounding systems; promptly suspend outdoor hazardous operations such as work at heights or lifting tasks; and ensure proper lightning protection for instruments and electrical equipment. High temperatures pose numerous risks to chemical enterprises, including fire and explosion, emission of flammable and toxic gases, explosion of pressure vessels and pipelines, electrical safety, material storage, and personnel injuries. 1. Production operation risks: Summer is typically characterized by high temperatures and intense sunlight, which lead to issues such as the volatilization of chemicals, expansion of liquid materials, and reduced efficiency of cooling systems. If not properly managed, these conditions can give rise to abnormal situations that threaten production safety, as well as fires and poisoning incidents. Precautionary measures: 1. Strengthen the inspection of cooling systems such as circulating water and air cooling, adjust the operating load of circulating water pumps and air coolers as appropriate, and strictly prevent bearings, motors, and reaction units of rotating equipment from operating at excessive temperatures. 2. Closely monitor changes in the external ambient temperature. For materials with poor flowability at certain temperatures (such as resin-based products), operating procedures must be strictly followed during the production process to prevent significant temperature fluctuations from causing phase changes in the materials, which could lead to blockages in pipelines and equipment, resulting in overpressure in upstream and downstream units. 3. In high-temperature environments during summer, the initial temperature of the raw materials and auxiliary materials entering the reactor must be strictly controlled, and the heat exchange rate must be precisely managed to prevent the reaction from overheating and getting out of control, which could lead to greater risks. 4. Summer is a peak period for chemical enterprises to start up, shut down, and carry out inspections and maintenance tasks. It is necessary to strictly follow the established plans and protocols, ensure proper approval for such operations, strengthen supervision during these tasks, avoid exposing electrical connections, and exercise strict control over open flames at the site. 5. During the summer, the power demand on the electrical grid is high, which may lead to power restrictions or outages. Enterprises should meet the power supply requirements for different load levels in terms of power settings, and shall be equipped with dual power supplies and uninterruptible power supplies in accordance with regulatory requirements. 6. High temperatures in summer accelerate the evaporation of toxic and harmful gases from areas such as sewage tanks, biological treatment tanks, and evaporation ponds. During employee inspections and routine operations, it is necessary to strengthen personal protective measures; in case of emergencies, one should act calmly to avoid causing greater harm through reckless attempts to rescue. 2. Risks associated with the storage and transportation of materials: Warehouses and storage tanks serve as areas where chemicals are stored. High environmental temperatures in summer or prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause these materials to melt, decompose, or catch fire, thereby threatening the safety of production processes in enterprises. Precautionary measures: 1. The storage of hazardous chemicals outdoors is strictly prohibited. Cylinders, tanks, and other materials located in the production area must be protected from direct sunlight to prevent prolonged exposure to it. 2. During periods of high temperatures, insulation measures should be applied to the roofs of warehouses storing hazardous chemicals, and temperature and humidity sensors, detectors for flammable and toxic gases, as well as ventilation systems should be installed indoors. 3. The receipt, dispatch, loading, unloading, and transportation of hazardous chemicals should be carried out away from the peak heat hours at noon, and preferably during cooler times when workers are in good condition, in order to prevent toxic and flammable materials from evaporating more rapidly due to high temperatures, which could lead to accidents and injuries. 4. For storage tanks of hazardous chemicals such as liquefied hydrocarbons, it is necessary to constantly monitor changes in the internal temperature and pressure of the tanks. Measures such as tank spraying and adjustment of nitrogen blanketing pressure should be adopted to prevent the risk of abnormal temperature rise and expansion of the materials. Furthermore, in conditions of extreme high temperatures, hazardous operations such as water separation from liquefied hydrocarbons should not be carried out. 3. Risks associated with personnel operations: Due to adverse weather conditions such as high temperatures and humidity, production safety accidents may occur during employees’ daily operations. These accidents can be caused by heatstroke or fatigue, improper use of protective gear, violations of regulations and operational errors, as well as inadequate inspections and patrols. Preventive measures: 1. Based on weather forecasts or heat wave warnings issued by meteorological departments, and in light of actual production conditions, reasonably schedule working hours for tasks conducted outdoors or in high-temperature environments. 2. Improve ventilation in the workplace to ensure good air flow, thereby reducing the impact of high temperatures on people. 3. Remind employees to drink water regularly, and provide salt-containing beverages as well as mung bean soup and other drinks that help prevent heat exhaustion, in order to maintain fluid balance and avoid heatstroke caused by dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. 4. Employers should provide employees with lightweight and breathable workwear (except in special environments such as those where flammability or explosiveness is a concern), to facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation from the body, thereby helping to regulate body temperature. 5. Provide heat-relief items such as cooling oil, menthol oil, and Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, and distribute them in a timely and proper manner. 6. Due to the effects of high temperatures, employees are prone to mental fatigue and other issues, which can lead to mistakes and violations of safety procedures. Companies should pay close attention to their employees’ mental state and psychological well-being, and provide timely support and intervention. Intense rains: Heavy rains occur frequently in summer, often leading to floods or waterlogging. This poses risks to chemical enterprises, such as building collapses, flooding of equipment and facilities, short-circuiting of electrical systems due to moisture, and reactions between chemicals and water. 1. Production and operation risks: Chemical manufacturing processes are complex and require stringent conditions. The production process involves numerous equipment such as pumps and fans; heavy rain or floods can lead to equipment shutdowns, reactions of materials in contact with water, as well as power outages and electrical leaks, among other unexpected issues. 2. Risks associated with the storage and transportation of materials: Some chemicals may undergo chemical reactions when exposed to water, leading to fires, explosions, or the release of toxic and harmful substances. Heavy rain or flooding can also pose a risk of damaging warehouses and stored materials. 3. Risks associated with human operations: During the summer, there is more rainfall, which increases the workload related to flood prevention for enterprises; risks such as electric shock and falls among workers become more prominent. Lightning is characterized by high voltage, large current, and strong electromagnetic radiation. For chemical enterprises where flammable and explosive materials are concentrated, the increased frequency of thunderstorm weather in summer significantly raises the risk of fires and explosions. 1. Production and operation risks: Lightning strikes can cause damage to mechanical and electrical equipment, power systems, instrumentation, communication devices, metering equipment, as well as control systems. This leads to issues such as voltage fluctuations, power outages, equipment failures, electrical trips, and control system malfunctions, all of which constitute factors that undermine safe production. 2. Risks associated with the storage and transportation of materials: Statistics show that the energy released by a single direct lightning strike can reach tens of thousands of kilowatts. Such a rapid release of high energy can easily cause flammable materials to catch fire and explode when struck by lightning, especially in areas such as tank farms, loading/unloading platforms, and warehouses. 3. Risks associated with human operations: During thunderstorm weather, employees who work outdoors at heights or conduct inspections are exposed to the risk of lightning strikes. The average voltage of direct lightning strikes is in the hundreds of thousands of volts; such strikes can cause shock or death when they hit the human body, and they can also lead to burns caused by the high-temperature sparks generated by lightning ； The intense heat from lightning causes the surrounding air to expand violently, and the resulting massive shock wave can cause severe physical damage to the human body.