• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.60-71
• /
• 2023

The purpose of this study is to propose a quantitative toxicity endpoint distance suitable for the initial response of firefighters by comparing and analyzing the commonly applied toxic level of concern (T-LOC), specifically emergency response planning guidelines (ERPG), acute exposure guideline levels (AEGL), and immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH). This is to protect the fire brigade, which responds to toxic chemical accidents first during the golden time. Using areal locations of hazardous atmospheres, a damage prediction program, the amount of leakage for both acidic and basic substances, along with the endpoint distance, were analyzed for alternative accident and worst-case accident scenarios. The results showed that the toxicity endpoint distance, serving as a compromise between Level-3 and Level-2 of T-LOC, was longer than ERPG-3 and shorter than ERPG-2 with IDLH, while its values were analyzed in the order of ERPG-2, AEGL-2, IDLH, AEGL-3, and ERPG-3. It is suggested that the application of IDLH in an emergency (red card) and ERPG-2 endpoint distance in a non-emergency (non-red card) can be utilized for the initial response of the fire brigade.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.7-17
• /
• 1998

This study is to develop the consequence modeling methodology for quantitative prediction of the hazard distance(or toxic buffer distance) for two-phase flow continuous releases from the pressurized chlorine saturated liquid storage tank of the chemical plant facilities. The source term modeling was peformed by the refined analysis method based on USEPA's guideline and SuperChems model self-calculation, respectively. The hazard distance was predicted for STEL, IDLH and ERPGs(ERPG-2 and ERPG-3) concentrations being used as the toxic regultaion concentration in hazard estimation. To use as hazard estimation guideline for the establishment of the emergency response planning, the effects of source characteristics and meteorological vaiations on the hazard distance was especially considered for ERPG-2 concentration.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.77-82
• /
• 2017

Thus, chemicals are managed under 9 related central government department and 16 relevant laws with program such as Process Safety Management and Offsite Consequence Analysis in korea. Guidelines for set the endpoint concentration for chemcals based on the ERPG-2 (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines-2) and AEGL-2 (Acute Exposure Guidelines Level-2). but ERPG and AEGL do not describe exposure for less than 10 minutes. because of this, each guidelines define criteria differently for short time less than 10 minutes exposure. This indefinite exposure criteria would give rise to a confusion in the chemical plants, and potentially lead to a critical decision making error when accidents happen. In an effort to apply guidelines with evenly-distributed initial time frame, AEGL concentrations within 10 minute exposure time were evaluated by examining statistical regression curves. The results were in good agreement with those from the Probit Function based on each AEGL grade to explain 3 different threshold levels of exposure effects. Resultant re-enforced guidelines for endpoint chemical concentrations are, therefore, to provide powerful tool to assess and manage the risk associated with any potential chemical accidents at an early stage.

• Fire Science and Engineering
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.7-11
• /
• 2015

In Korea, The protective action distance based on Canada's ERG has been adopted for safety of residents in case of hazardous chemicals leakage accident. However, it couldn't respond properly on the accidents because of geographical and meteorological differences between two nations. In this study, It was found that the protective action distance varies depending on season and terrain, Through AERMOD modeling analysis for the petrochemical complex reflected local geographical data and meteorological conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.18-25
• /
• 2018

As the industries become more developed, the amounts of hazardous materials have been increased. Because of that, the possibility of accidents in plants is expected to increase. Especially, the dispersions of toxic materials cause serious effect to human life and environment, So it is very important to confirm safety distance of discharge accident. For this paper, we proposed new algorithms for toxic liquid, such as benzene and acrylonitrile. and using this argorithm, we are going to predict safety distance. The scenario of accidental release was assumed to be the release of entire quantity in 10 minutes is defined as worst-case scenario and Instantaneous release. Also the release from a partial rupture of line is used as an alternative case scenarios as NICS(National Institute of Chemical Safety) guidelines. Using ALOHA program and the algorithm for liquid toxic materials and suggested the graph, as well as correlated equations which can utilize emergency responders.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 2023

Silicone tetrachloride (SiCl₄) leak accidents cause enormous human and environmental damage because it is highly toxic. Some handling facilities use water curtains to reduce the impact range of SiCl₄. Although the water curtain is known as one of the most efficient technologies for post-release mitigation, its effect on reducing SiCl₄ concentration needs to be investigated scientifically and quantitatively. In this study, three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to investigate the physical and chemical effects of water curtains as a release-mitigation system for SiCl₄. SiCl₄ is released and dispersed five seconds prior to the operation of the water curtain. Once the water curtain works, the SiCl₄ reacts chemically with the water and its concentration decreases rapidly; it reaches an emergency response planning guidelines level 2 (ERPG-2) of 5 parts per million (ppm) at about 570 m. We observed, however, that the physical effect of water curtains on reducing SiCl₄ concentration is insignificant when the chemical effect is eliminated. These results are crucial since they can be a scientific and quantitative basis for the 'technical guidelines for estimating the accident affected range'. In order to protect the public from chemical accidents, more toxic gas mitigation technologies need to be developed.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.449-461
• /
• 2013

As the hydrofluoric acid leak in Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do or hydrochloric acid leak in Ulsan, Gyeongsangnam-do demonstrated, chemical related accidents are mostly caused by large amounts of volatile toxic substances leaking due to the damages of storage tank or pipe lines of transporter. Safety assessment is the most important concern because such toxic material accidents cause human and material damages to the environment and atmosphere of the surrounding area. Therefore, in this study, a hydrofluoric acid leaked from a storage tank was selected as the study example to simulate the leaked substance diffusing into the atmosphere and result analysis was performed through the numerical Analysis and diffusion simulation of ALOHA(Areal Location of Hazardous Atmospheres). the results of a qualitative evaluation of HAZOP (Hazard Operability)was looked at to find that the flange leak, operation delay due to leakage of the valve and the hose, and toxic gas leak were danger factors. Possibility of fire from temperature, pressure and corrosion, nitrogen supply overpressure and toxic leak from internal corrosion of tank or pipe joints were also found to be high. ALOHA resulting effects were a little different depending on the input data of Dense Gas Model, however, the wind direction and speed, rather than atmospheric stability, played bigger role. Higher wind speed affected the diffusion of contaminant. In term of the diffusion concentration, both liquid and gas leaks resulted in almost the same $LC_{50}$ and ALOHA AEGL-3(Acute Exposure Guidline Level) values. Each scenarios showed almost identical results in ALOHA model. Therefore, a buffer distance of toxic gas can be determined by comparing the numerical analysis and the diffusion concentration to the IDLH(Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health). Such study will help perform the risk assessment of toxic leak more efficiently and be utilized in establishing community emergency response system properly.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.45-57
• /
• 2015

Objectives: This study aims to compare the physicochemical characteristics, toxicological data with Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) of chemicals under the Occupational Safety and Health Act(OSHA) regulated by the Ministry of Employment and Labor of Korea. Methods: Information on chemicals which have OELs on physicochemical characteristics and toxicological data was collected using Material Safety Data Sheet(MSDS) from Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) and the Korea Information System for Chemical Safety Management(KISChem) in 2014. Statistical analyses including correlation and simple regression were performed to compare the OELs with chemical characteristics including molecular weight, boiling point, odor threshold, vapor pressure, vapor density, solubility and octanol-water partition coefficient(OWPC) and toxicological data such as median lethal dose($LD_{50}$) and median lethal concentration($LC_{50}$). Results: A total of 656 chemicals have OELs under OSHA in Korea. The numbers of chemicals which have eight-hour time weighted average(TWA) and short term exposure limits(STEL) are 618 and 190, respectively. TWA was significantly correlated with boiling point and STEL was only correlated with vapor pressure among physicochemical characteristics. Solubility and OWPC between "skin" and "no skin" substances which indicate skin penetration were not significantly different. Both $LD_{50}$ and $LC_{50}$ were correlated with TWA, while the $LC_{50}$ was not with STEL. As health indicators, health rating and Emergency Response Planning Guidelines(ERPG) rating as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association(NFPA) and American Industrial Hygiene Association(AIHA) were associated with OELs and reflect the chemical hazards. Conclusions: We found relationships between OEL and chemical information including physicochemical characteristics and toxicological data. The study has an important meaning for understanding present regulatory OELs.