HAZARDS OF NITROGEN AND CATALYST HANDLING

"It should not be necessary for each generation to

rediscover principles of process safety which the

generation before discovered.We must learn from theexperience of others ratherthan learn the hard way. Wemust pass on to the nextgeneration a record of what we have learned."

-

Jesse C. DUCOMMUN

3

HAZARDS OF NITROGEN AND

CATALYST HANDLING

Contents

1.

SAFE USE OF NITROGEN......................................................................4

1.1 In

troducti

on ........................................................................................................4

1.2 Properties

of Nitrogen ........................................................................................5

1.3 Uses and Haza

rds of Nit

rogen...........................................................................6

1.4 Hazards

of Open M

anholes ...............................................................................8

1.5 Hazards of Tem

porary Confi

ned Spaces ........................................................14

1.6 Hazards of Pipi

ng Under Nitr

ogen Purge ........................................................17

1.7 Hazards of Conf

using Nitrogen

with Air...........................................................18

1.8 Hazards of

Trapped Pre

ssure..........................................................................20

1.9 Hazards of

Liquid Ni

trogen ..............................................................................22

1.10 Hazards of Explosimeter

Use in Nitrogen

Atmospheres .................................23

1.11 General Advice

and Safe Prac

tices .................................................................25

2.

SAFE HANDLING OF CATALYST ........................................................27

2.1 Properties

of Catalysts.....................................................................................27

2.2 Fire

Hazards ....................................................................................................28

2.3 Health

Hazards ................................................................................................32

2.4 Spent

Catalyst..................................................................................................33

2.5 Nicke

l Carbonyl................................................................................................34

2.6 Crushi

ng Hazards ............................................................................................35

2.7 Other Hazards associ

ated with Catalyst

Handling ..........................................36

2.8 Catal

yst Unl

oading...........................................................................................37

2.9 Catal

yst Labe

lling.............................................................................................38

2.10 Catalyst

Disposal .............................................................................................38

2.11 Respiratory and Protective

Equipment R

equirements.....................................39

2.12 Catalyst Specialist Contractors

for Inert Gas / Nit

rogen Reactors ..................45

3.

Points to Remember for Tool Box Meetings ......................................50

4.

Test Yourself .........................................................................................56