SAFETY FIRST

摘要

As we finalized this print edition of Biodiesel Magazine with a focus on plant safety, a flash fire was being reported at Midwest Biodiesel, which reportedly ignited as a result of welding repairs to a tank with alcohol, injuring two people. Unfortunately, these types of events are all too common in the biodiesel indus-tty. In our featured article, "Safety Your Way," I talk with several biodiesel producers of various sizes—Pacific Biodiesel, Kelley Green Biofuel and Piedmont Biofuels— in addition to process technology providers Crown Iron Works and WB Services to get dieir take on best practices from design and procedural standpoints for running a safe commercial biodiesel operation. Lyle Estill, president of Piedmont Biofuels in Pittsboro, North Carolina, says Piedmont routinely shuts down in slow periods for maintenance to ensure smooth and safe operation for the high production periods. "Biodiesel plants are at their most dangerous when construction and hot work is underway," he says. Since designs are constandy changing and improving, plants are frequendy "under construction" even while fuel is still being produced. "Stop production during plant modifications," Estill advises. "I am constandy relieved when the welding and grinding equipment is collecting dust."