USING METHANOL SAFELY: WWTP DESIGN AND PRACTICES TO ENSURE WORKER SAFETY ASSOCIATED WITH METHANOL

Recently, two municipal workers lost their lives and another was critically injured in a methanol explosion at a wastewater treatment plant in Florida. Lessons learned regarding WWTP design, practices, training, and awareness need to be carried forward to the wastewater industry to help prevent recurrence of this type of incident.Understanding the hazards and risks of using methanol, and following good design and safe handling practices, will minimize safety incidents and maximize protection of people and the environment when working with methanol.This paper describes the basic characteristics of methanol and its associated hazards. It discusses design considerations to reduce the likelihood of a methanol incident, and it explains practical approaches to fire prevention and personnel protection. Guidance is provided for fire fighting and for first aid treatment in the event of an incident using methanol.