• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.9-21
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• 2024

Static-electricity-induced fires and explosions persistently occur every year, averaging approximately 80 and 20 cases annually according to fire statistics provided by the National Fire Agency and industrial accident statistics provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, respectively. Despite the relatively low probabilities of these accidents, their potential risks are high. Consequently, effective risk assessment methodologies and accident investigation strategies are essential for efficiently managing static-electricity hazards in fire- and explosion-prone areas. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify the causal variables essential for accident investigations, thereby facilitating risk assessments and the implementation of effective recurrence prevention measures to mitigate static-electricity hazards in fire-and explosion-prone regions. To this end, industrial accident statistics recorded over the past decade (2012 to 2021) by the Ministry of Employment and Labor were analyzed to identify major fire and explosion incidents and related industrial accidents wherein static electricity was identified as a potential ignition source. Subsequently, relevant investigation reports (63 cases) were thoroughly analyzed. Based on the results of this analysis, existing electrostatic fire and explosion risk assessment techniques were refined and augmented. Moreover, factors essential for investigating electrostatic fire and explosion disasters were delineated, and the primary causal variables necessary for effective risk assessments and scientific investigations were derived.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.66-71
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• 2010

In order to evaluate the fire and explosion involved and to ensure the safe and optimized operation of chemical processes, it is necessary to know combustion properties. Explosion limit is one of the major combustion properties used to determine the fire and explosion hazards of the flammable substances. In this study, the lower explosion and upper explosion limits of esters were predicted by using the heat of combustion. The values calculated by the proposed equations agreed with literature data within a few percent. From the given results, using the proposed methodology, it is possible to predict the explosion limits of the other ester flammable substances.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.19 no.4 s.60
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• pp.26-31
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• 2005

In order to evaluate the fire and explosion involved and to ensure the safe and optimized operation of chemical processes, it is necessary to know combustion properties. Explosion limit is one of the major combustion properties used to determine the fire and explosion hazards of the flammable substances. In this study, the explosion limits of alcohols were predicted by using the normal boiling points and the flash points based on a solution theory. The values calculated by the proposed equations agreed with literature data within a few percent. From the given results, using the proposed methodology; it is Possible to Predict the explosion limits of the other flammable substances.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.63-69
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• 2012

Explosion limit is one of the major combustion properties used to determine the fire and explosion hazards of the flammable substances. In this study, the lower explosion limit (LEL) and upper explosion limit (UEL) of organic halogenated hydrocarbons were predicted by using the heat of combustion and chemical stoichiometric coefficients. The calculated explosion limits by the proposed equations agreed with literature data within a few percent. From the given results, using the proposed methodology, it is possible to predict the explosion limits of the other organic halogenated hydrocarbons.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.10 no.1 s.30
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• pp.19-25
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• 2006

Explosion limit is one of the major physical properties used to determine the fire and explosion hazards of the flammable substances. Explosion limits are used to classify flammable materials according to their relative flammability. Such a classification is important for the safe handling, storage, transportation of flammable substances. In this study, the lower explosion limits(LEL) of the flammable mixtures predicted with the appropriate use of the vapor composition and the heat of combustion of the individual components which constitute mixture. The values calculated by the proposed equations were a good agreement with literature data within a few percent. From a given results, It is to be hoped that this methodology will contribute to the estimation of the explosive properties of flammable mixtures with improved accuracy and the broader application for other flammable substances.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.228-233
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• 2008

Detonation limit is one of the major physical properties used to determine the fire and explosion hazards of the flammable substances. In this study, the lower detonation limits (LDL) and the upper detonation limits (UDL) of the flammable substances predicted with the appropriate use of the heat of combustion and the stoichiometric coefficient. The values calculated by the proposed equations were a good agreement with literature data within a few percent. From a given results, It is to be hoped that this methodology will contribute to the estimation of the detonation limits of for other flammable substances.

• Korean Journal of Hazardous Materials
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2018

It is very important to classify explosion hazardous area in order to prevent an accident explosion. In order to prevent such a explosion, the Industrial Safety and Health Standards Rules stipulates the establishment and management of explosion hazards in accordance with the criteria set by the Korean Industrial Standards. This study has investigated the range of the explosion hazardous area according to various hole sizes, pressures, vapor densities, and wind velocities in the outdoor flammable liquid tank using KS C IEC-60079-10-1 $2^{nd}$ Ed.(=IEC CODE) and PHAST. The results show that the explosion hazardous areas by IEC CODE have circle shapes. However, the areas by PHAST show ellipse shapes. The different of the explosion hazardous areas increases with the increase of wind velocity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 1990

The purpose of this study is to investigate electrostatic charge condition and possibility of electrostatic hazards in case of putting on synthetic smocks and antistatic garments for the purpose of prevention of electrostatic hazards due to a human body electrical charge. It is shown in case of a synthetic smocks, electrostatic voltage by friction is about 2,900 (V), half life period is 12 second, and electrostatic charge is 1.4―1.8 ($\mu$ C). When putting on a synthetic smocks, electrostatic voltage is 2,500―2,800(V). When putting on a jumper of chemical fiber, electrostatic voltage is 8,000(V) . It is, therfore, possible to cause a electrostatic hazards. It is also shown in case of a antistatic garments, electrostatic voltage by friction is 87(V) ―280(V) (washing 90 times), half life period is 3―5 second, and electrostatic charge is 0.24―0.28($\mu$ C) which is much lower than 0.6($\mu$ C) limitation of fire and explosion occurance. When putting on a antistatic garments, electrostatic voltage is 10(V) ―125(V). In conclusion, it is shown when putting on a antistatic garments it is possible to prevent a electrostatic hazards such as fire or explosion due to human body, to prevent a destruction of semiconductor elements and capacity decline, and to prevent a misoperation of automation facilities and semiconductor electric and electronic products.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.50-56
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• 2009

Explosion limit and autoignition temperature are the major properties used to determine the fire and explosion hazards of the flammable substances. Explosion limit and autoignition temperature for safe handling of ethylene were investigated. By using the literatures data, the lower and upper explosion limits of ethylene recommended 2.6vol% and 36vol%, respectively. Also autoignition temperatures of ethylene with ignition sources recommended $420^{\circ}C$ at the electrically heated crucible furnace (the whole surface heating) and recommended about $800^{\circ}C$ in the local hot surface. The new equations for predicting the temperature dependence and the pressure dependence of the lower explosion limits for ethylene are proposed. The values calculated by the proposed equations were a good agreement with the literature data.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.23-31
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• 2023

Revising the Occupational Safety and Health Act led to enacting and revising related laws and systems, such as placing fire observers in hot workplaces. However, the operating standards in such cases are still ambiguous. Although fire accidents occur through multiple and multi-step factors, the hazards of fire accidents have been identified in this study as individual rather than interrelated factors. The aim has been to identify multiple factors of accidents, outlining fire and explosion accidents that recently occurred in the domestic manufacturing industry. First, major keywords were extracted through text mining. Then representative accident types were derived by combining the main keywords through the co-word network analysis to identify the hazards and their relationships. The representative fire accidents were identified as six types, and their major hazards were then addressed for improving safety measures using the identification of hazards in the "Risk Assessment" tool. It is found that various safety measures, such as professional fire observers' training and clear placement standards, are needed. This study will provide useful basic data for revising practical laws and guidelines for fire accident prevention, system supplementation, safety policy establishment, and future related research.