• 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.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.63-70
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• 2014

There has been an increase in fire/explosion accidents caused by chemical substances used in new small/medium sized construction, reconstruction, or extension sites. There is vast room for improvement, especially in safety training, safety inspection, and selection of countermeasures because training, technicality, and management systems regarding fire/explosion risks in small/medium sized construction sites are very immature in most cases. The purpose of this study is to propose a differentiated technical, educational, and management application plan for preventative management of fire/explosion accidents caused by chemical substances used in small/medium sized construction sites.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.22-33
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• 2023

The number of fire and explosion accidents caused by pyrolysis oil and gas at waste plastic pyrolysis plants is increasing, but accident status and safety conditions have not been clearly identified. Therefore, the aim of the study was to identify the risks of the waste plastic pyrolysis process and suggest appropriate safety management measures. We collected information on 19 cases of fire and explosion accidents that occurred between 2010 and 2021 at 26 waste plastic pyrolysis plants using the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) database and media reports. The mechanical, managerial, personnel-related, and environmental problems within a plant and problems related to government agencies and the design, manufacturing, and installation companies involved with pyrolysis equipment were analyzed using the 4Ms of Machines, Management, Man, and Media, as well as the System-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP) methodology for seven accident cases with accident investigation reports. Study findings indicate the need for establishing legal and institutional support measures for waste plastic pyrolysis plants in order to prevent fire and explosion accidents in the pyrolysis process. In addition, ensuring safety from the design and manufacturing stages of facilities is essential, as are measures that ensure systematic operations after the installation of safety devices.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.19 no.4 s.68
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• pp.150-154
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• 2004

Gas explosion characteristics of hydrogen and liquefied petroleum gas(LPG) were measured in 6L cylindrical vessel, and experiment for explosion to fire transition phenomena of the gases were carried out using the 270L vessel. Explosion characteristics were measured using the stain type pressure transducer and explosion to fire transition phenomena was analyzed with the hish-speed camera. Base on the experiment, it was found that explosion pressure was most high slightly above the stoichiometric concentration, and explosion pressure rise rate and flame propagation velocity were proportional to the combustion velocity. And we find that those kind of explosion characteristics affect the explosion-to-fire transition, in addition, explosion flame temperature, flame residence time, are important parameters in explosion-to-fire transition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.37-45
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• 2019

The characteristic of fire and explosion related to electrostatic discharge is that it is difficult to reproduce the electrostatic charge and discharge phenomenon in addition to the large human and material damage. Therefore, in order to prevent accidents and disasters related to electrostatic in fire and explosion hazard areas, it is important to manage the level of electrostatic in a safe manner from the perspective of system between industrial facilities and human bodies. Rule 325 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, "Prevention of Fire / Explosion due to Electrostatic", requires the use of grounding, conductive materials, humidification and electrification in order to prevent the risk of disaster caused by static explosion and electrostatic in the production process. In order to comply with these measures, related technologies, standards and systems are needed from the viewpoint of preventive measures related to electrostatic in fire and explosion hazard areas, but in Korea, it is still insufficient. Therefore, technical, institutional and managerial measures are needed as a precautionary measure to improve the level of ESD safety in fire and explosion hazard areas and prevent electrostatic related injury. In Korea, we analyzed the current status and characteristics of electrostatic related disaster by using the statistics of industrial accident and fire statistics of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. We also analyzed the current status and characteristics of electrostatic related disasters in Japan using JNIOSH accidents and disasters investigation cases and JNIOSH fire accident data of Japan Fire Bureau. The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the current status of electrostatic related accidents and disasters in Korea and Japan in order to improve the safety management of electrostatic in fire and explosion hazard areas. In order to prevent accidents and disasters in the industrial field, The technical, institutional, and managerial measures to manage the level of electrostatic in a safe state were derived from the system point of view.

• International Journal of Safety
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.15-18
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• 2012

Because of development of printing technology, toner cartridge particle becomes smaller and more dangerous. And sometimes we had incidents with dust explosion of toner cartridge particle at recycling facilities in Japan. Therefore we studied on hazard of toner particle relating with dust explosion. We found that toner particle is so dangerous compared with most organic solids, even though it does not belong to hazardous materials in the UN regulation and the Japanese Fire Service Law.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.19 no.4 s.68
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• pp.14-19
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• 2004

Boiler is a hazardous equipment to have potential explosion ail the time. And not only it has malfunction at explosion. it lead to people death but also secondary accident such as explosion and fire. Therefore, this equipment should not be broken for keeping its own function. And also, high level of safety should be kept in the process of the use not to be malfunctioned. A large scale of accident due to boiler explosion can be preventive in advance. Boiler fracture is occurred by instant expansion (approximately 1700 time) from quick evaporation of rater in boiler, due to pressure decrease in boiler Emitting energy from it is tremendous and it is so dangerous because of its high temperature. Secondary explosion such as fire is also a main hazard occurring at fuel supply place. If any devices with high pressure is broken, then not only boiler vessel but also components of it are spread with high speed, causing secondary accident. This study is to analyze integrally accident cause of fire and flue tube boiler to have occurred pressure fracture actually, to show countermeasures to prevent accident loss from the fire and flue tube boiler.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.45-50
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• 2013

Resorcinol is widely used as a wood, tire adhesives, and a raw material of synthetic dye. This material with white crystals at room temperature, the particulates in the air can form explosive mixtures. It is known to be an explosion hazard when exposed to heat in a confined space. The study was evaluated fire and explosion characteristics of the resorcinol through thermal analysis, thermal stability, dust explosion characteristics, and the minimum ignition energy. From this study, it can be used to provide a safety information in the using and handling process of the resorcinol.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.44-59
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• 2020

This study analyzed a gas explosion accident. A gas smell from a underground coffee shop in the two-story building was reported to 119. A fire brigade was turned out, turned off the main valve of LPG gas cylinder on the roof, and checked the turning off of middle valve in the coffee shop. The fire brigade required a gas supplier and gas installer who arrived at the spot to take safety actions. Gas explosion occurred seven minutes after the fire brigade was withdrawn and two people died and 21 people were injured. A court decided that because the causes for gas explosion were not found, compensation responsibility could not be charged with the gas supplier, the gas installer, or Korea Gas Safety Corporation. In this reason, the court judged that only the fire brigade who was withdrawn without taking safety actions shall compensate victims or bereaved families. Therefore, fire brigades who turn out after a 119 report of a gas leak should take safety actions such as escaping people or preventing people's access and ventilating and be withdrawn when there is no possibility of fire or explosion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.58-63
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• 1993

Recently, a large amount of flammable or explosive materials have been handled or stored in chemical industries. H the equipments fail or the materials release in consequence of operation errors, fire and explosion could occur to them. Thus, risk assessment using quantification of risks is very important when design of processes and modifications of installed processes are performed. The purpose of this study is to develop the program for fire and explosion index in order to quantify the expected damage of fire and explosion incidents in chemical plants, to identify equipment that would be likely to contribute to the creation or escalation of an incident, to comunicate the potential fire and explosion risk to management and to account of damage cost.