Flammable Liquids Require Caution Against Static Electricity
"Petrochemical enterprises are highly susceptible to static electricity generation during production processes. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in winter, yet it is often overlooked by most companies." Dry winter conditions exacerbate static electricity-related safety accidents, and any oversight or error in any step can lead to combustion or explosion accidents. Because static electricity poses significant risks to safe production, product output and quality, stable equipment operation, and environmental protection, chemical enterprises must pay close attention.
Flammable liquids are those with a flash point (the temperature at which a spark ignites the fuel) below 45°C, which are liquid at room temperature and possess characteristics such as flammability, volatility, and explosiveness. Due to their high resistivity, they easily accumulate static charge. The amount of charge accumulated is closely related not only to the amount generated by the flow and impact of the liquid but also to the liquid's own resistance, capacitance to ground, and the conductivity of storage facilities. Therefore, static electricity accumulation and its potential hazard only occur when the generated static electricity exceeds the leaked static electricity. In production areas and work sites where flammable liquids are present, even slight carelessness can easily lead to the accumulation of static electricity, generating a momentary static spark that ignites (or explodes) flammable gases and liquids, causing fires and explosions, resulting in casualties and property damage.
"Static electricity is generated when people walk, put on or take off clothes, or squat and stand up. Therefore, chemical companies require operators to wear anti-static work clothes, work hats, and other anti-static equipment; static electricity should be released before starting work; static discharge balls should be added at the entrances of flammable and explosive areas to eliminate static electricity from the body by touch; it is strictly forbidden to put on or take off clothes in hazardous positions or to rub clothes with flammable solvents; it is not allowed to wear clothing and shoes that easily generate static electricity, and it is forbidden to carry metal objects unrelated to work."