MEC&F Expert Engineers : 01/07/15

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

UK contractor European Active Projects has been fined £15,000 plus costs of £917 after exposing agency workers it was employing to unnecessary danger while rigging and lifting containers at Chatham Docks.

Ignored risk assessment costs £15,917

January 7, 2015
UK contractor European Active Projects has been fined £15,000 plus costs of £917 after exposing agency workers it was employing to unnecessary danger while rigging and lifting containers at Chatham Docks.

Photographs of the lift were sent to the Health & Safety Executive last February by a member of public, showing a man at a height of approximately 10 metres attaching chain legs to a container being lifted by an All Terrain crane owned by Baldwins Crane Hire. A second man was working at a lower level, around four metres up. Nothing was in place to prevent either of them from falling.

An investigation revealed that a risk assessment and a method statement clearly stated that each container would be secured by an operator working from a boom lift. When the time came, the company said that it was unable to source a boom lift and resorted to using unfooted, unsecured ladders to access the containers.

The risk assessment and method statement clearly stated that each container would be secured by an o
The risk assessment and method statement clearly stated that each container would be secured by an operator working from a boom lift

Prior to the incident European Active Projects had received written advice stating that the company needed to improve the planning and organisation of its lifting operations after an investigation into a serious incident involving a lifting operation.

HSE inspector Joanne Williams said: “The dangers of falling, and quite possibly sustaining fatal injuries, were very real and highlighted quite dramatically in the photos that were taken. The company had a plan but then totally ignored it as soon as it became clear a mobile boom couldn’t be sourced in time. It failed to provide any suitable measures to make sure the container structure could be erected safely and allowed dangerous practices to take place on site.”

Comment

One has to assume that this was straight crane hire job, and that the full management of the lift was carried out by European Active Projects. The excuse that a boom lift could not be procured is particularly weak, and if true, simply reflects poor planning

Another electrocution when a California man took the platform too close overhead power lines

Another electrocution when a California man took the platform too close overhead power lines

January 7, 2015

A man age 64 was electrocuted in Arcata, Northern California, yesterday, when he took the platform he was working from too close to a set of overhead power lines.

The emergency services were called to the scene at a lumber mill owned and operated by Sierra Pacific Industries and reported that the man appeared to be unconscious in the platform at a height of around seven metres. The platform was not in contact with the power lines, but was only inches away. Firefighters believe that part of his body touched the cables causing the shock.

The firemen managed to use the machine’s emergency lowering valves to bring the platform down, once they were able to reach the man they quickly determined that he was already dead. The man was a contractor testing and repairing equipment at the mill.

The incident is under investigation by Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Sierra Pacific Industries

ANSI standards stipulate Minimal Approach Distances for working near overhead power lines, and at last year’s Conexpo IPAF made this subject a cornerstone of its display and has pushed hard to get its nine (27 feet)  and 15 metre (45 feet) rule adopted. And yet to many platform users, contractors and plant owners seem oblivious to them.

How many more people have to die before this subject is truly taken seriously?

Man ejected from platform

Man ejected from platform lift in Richmond Virginia, he may be paralyzed

January 8, 2015
The owner of a tree and landscaping company was ejected from the lift he was using on Monday in Richmond, Virginia.

Mike Witt, 43, was trimming a tree from his bucket truck at a height of around five metres, he cut the top section off the tree and it swung back and hut the platform, causing a catapult effect which ejected him from the platform, causing serious injuries which may paralyse him from the waist down.

He co-owns the company – A Cut Above – with his wife, who was working with him when the incident occurred. She said that he did a back flip in the air and went down landing on his face. He was rush to hospital and underwent an operation on Tuesday. The hospital believes that he will most likely not regain control over his lower body. He has two daughters, ages 11 and 14.

Clearly he was not wearing a harness that was attached to the platform with a short lanyard. If he had this might have just been another job.

Cut above
A Cut Above in action with its bucket truck

Shell Agree £55 Million Settlement for Nigerian Spill

Shell Agree £55 Million Settlement for Nigerian Spill

Published in Oil Industry News on Wednesday, 7 January 2015

Graphic for Shell Agree £55 Million Settlement for Nigerian Spill in Oil and Gas NewsShell’s Nigerian subsidiary, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), has today announced a £55 million settlement agreement with the Bodo community in respect of the two highly regrettable operational spills in 2008.
The £55 million settlement provides for an individual payment to each claimant who accepts the settlement agreement in compensation for losses arising from the spills, amounting to up to £35 million in total. The remaining £20 million payment will be made for the benefit of the Bodo community generally.
“From the outset, we’ve accepted responsibility for the two deeply regrettable operational spills in Bodo. We’ve always wanted to compensate the community fairly and we are pleased to have reached agreement,” said Mutiu Sunmonu, Managing Director of SPDC.
“We are fully committed to the clean-up process being overseen by the former Netherlands’ Ambassador to Nigeria. Despite delays caused by divisions within the community, we are pleased that clean-up work will soon begin now that a plan has been agreed with the community.
“However, unless real action is taken to end the scourge of oil theft and illegal refining, which remains the main cause of environmental pollution and is the real tragedy of the Niger Delta, areas that are cleaned up will simply become re-impacted through these illegal activities.
“SPDC has made great efforts to raise awareness of the issue with the government of Nigeria, international bodies like the United Nations, the media, civil society and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and we will continue to play an active role in the search for solutions. We urge all those with influence, including Bodo community leaders and NGO groups, to support this effort.”
Source: www.shell.co.uk

Super Puma Fault Could Cause Loss of Control if Unchecked

Super Puma Fault Could Cause Loss of Control if Unchecked

Published in Oil Industry News on Wednesday, 7 January 2015

Graphic for Super Puma Fault Could Cause Loss of Control if Unchecked in Oil and Gas NewsA fault affecting some models of Super Puma helicopters could cause pilots to lose control of the aircraft if left unchecked.
Three cases of cracked pins in the main rotor hub used in AS332 and EC225 Super Pumas were reported to manufacturer Airbus last year.
The firm immediately notified operators and alerted the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which issued a legally-binding notice instructing companies to deal with the issue.
EASA investigators reported: “Three cases of cracked main rotor blade attachment pins were [found] on the same AS322 L2 helicopter main rotor hub. Subsequent investigation revealed that the cracking was the result of a combination of factors, among them the corrosion in the inner area of the pin chamber.
“The condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to failure of the main rotor blade attachment pin, resulting in loss of control of the helicopter.
"To address this potentially unsafe condition, Airbus Helicopters issued a bulletin to provide inspection instructions."
The corrosion is believed to be caused by environmental factors. EASA has issued detailed instructions to Super Puma operators requiring repeated inspection of the rotor pins from January. The new rules are intended to help companies detect and remove corrosion before cracks can develop.
Regular inspections will be expected to take place at least every 26 months on AS332 and EC225 Super Pumas after they have spent 410 and 660 hours in the air respectively.
Source: www.stv.tv

OSHA cites MFG Chemical Inc. for repeated safety hazards after 2 workers injured, 1 fatally



OSHA cites MFG Chemical Inc. for repeated safety hazards after 2 workers injured, 1 fatally


Jan. 06, 2015
 

DALTON, Ga. – An MFG Chemical Inc. worker died after hazardous chemical vapors released from an overpressurized reactor burned his respiratory system. A second employee was treated at a hospital and released. A July 2014 inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration resulted in citations for MFG for 17 safety and health violations. OSHA initiated the inspection after a media referral alleged that a chemical release at the manufacturing facility had occurred.

"MFG continues to violate OSHA standards, exposing workers to serious hazards associated with process safety management," said Christi Griffin, director of OSHA's Atlanta-West Area Office. "Allowing repeated violations demonstrates the company's lack of commitment to worker safety and health."

MFG was inspected by OSHA previously in 2012 and received 19 serious citations related to process safety management standards.

OSHA's Process Safety Management standard contains specific requirements for the management of hazards associated with processes using dangerous chemicals and establishes a comprehensive management program integrating technologies, procedures and management practices.

OSHA issued repeated citations for MFG's failure to ensure that the reactor system alarm provided early warning for worker evacuation; not training workers on the hazards of permit-required confined spaces; and failure to ensure equipment used for manufacturing had an adequate pressure-relief design. A repeated violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. MFG was cited previously for similar violations in 2012 at this facility.

Serious citations were issued for the company's failure to ensure guarded floor openings and pits; establish and implement written changes to the chemical manufacturing process; and identify previous workplace incidents that had the potential for catastrophic results. Other violations included failure to provide medical examinations for workers required to use respirators and not conducting fit tests for respirators. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Bureau of Labor Statistics data from the preliminary Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries shows fatal work injuries in Georgia accounted for 70 of the 4,405 fatal work injuries* reported nationally in 2013. Additional details are available at http://www.bls.gov.

MFG manufactures a range of specialty chemicals for the water treatment, agriculture and pulp, and paper industries. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Proposed penalties total $87,780.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Atlanta-West Area Office at 678-903-7301.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance.

Chemical cleanup workers still exposed to dangerous hazards. Dedicated TCS employees not provided safety gear and other protections


Chemical cleanup workers still exposed to dangerous hazards.
Dedicated TCS employees not provided safety gear and other protections

Jan. 6, 2015

CHANNAHON, Ill. – For the third time in two years, a chemical tank cleaning service has exposed workers cleaning portable tank wagons to dangerous confined space hazards. Responding to a complaint, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found seven repeated and two serious violations at Dedicated TCS LLC's Channahon site. OSHA has proposed penalties of $79,464.
"Once again, Dedicated TCS has failed to protect its workers and expects them to work with hazardous materials such as hydroxide and nitrogen chemical residue in dangerous spaces without safety equipment," said Kathy Webb, OSHA's area director in Calumet City. "The company's failure to safeguard its employees is a consistent and unacceptable habit. It must stop now."
During a July 28, 2014, inspection, OSHA found that Dedicated TCS gas meters were not in working condition, and neither rescue and retrieval devices nor appropriate lighting for use in permit-required confined spaces were provided. A confined space is one large enough for workers to enter and perform certain jobs, such as a tank wagon, but it has limited or restricted means for entry or exit and is not designed for continuous occupancy.
The company also failed to train workers about the hazards they faced and how to use personal protective equipment when working with chemical residue. Inspectors also found that the entry supervisor did not verify that all safety requirements were met before allowing workers to enter the tank wagons.
Dedicated TCS was cited for the same violations at the Channahon facility in September 2012 and the company's Lansing facility in November 2012. OSHA issues repeated violations if an employer previously was cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.
The July 2014 inspection also found slip, trip and fall hazards on floors and stairs and used, damaged extension cords, resulting in two serious violations. An OSHA violation is serious if death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard an employer knew or should have known exists.
The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Calumet City Area Office at 708-891-3800.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.
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Arrest made in alleged San Ramon 'honey oil' operation

  Arrest made in alleged San Ramon 'honey oil' operation


SAN RAMON, Calif. (KTVU) -- A hazardous materials situation had several San Ramon homes under tense circumstances much of Tuesday as police and crews cleaned up a potentially dangerous "honey oil" operation at a private home.
Hazardous materials workers and law enforcement were on Henry Lane near I-680 most of the day. Officers said they went there investigating reports of a marijuana grow.
But once they entered the home, they discovered chemicals that could be unstable -- including butane tanks -- that created a dangerous situation.
Butane can be used to make hash oil, a marijuana derivative. It is highly explosive. A similar situation in Walnut Creek ended a couple months ago with a huge explosion at an apartment complex that left two people critically injured.
Police say this was a "honey oil" house. Honey oil is not unlike hash oil and the manufacturing process is very dangerous.



"The butane tanks are dangerous because there is an explosive possibility with those. So Contra Costa County Hazmat was notified. They responded to the scene, worked with San Ramon Fire, and they rendered the scene safe. At that point, there was a search warrant that was authored and the remainder of the residence was searched," said San Ramon Police Detective Mike Pistello.
Piestello added they found the remnants of a growing operation, but no marijuana.
"In the home were the pressurized butane tanks, and other items that are consistent with the extraction of honey oil from marijuana," said Pistello.
Pistello said there was some processed honey oil.
Police arrested one man who was home at the time and identified him as 31-year-old Ahmad Wais Sulaiman.
They said he currently is on probation. Now he is behind bars facing numerous charges, including cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale.

MAN FOUND DEAD AFTER SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO HOUSE FIRE



Man found dead after South Side of Chicago house fire


Chicago firefighters work at the scene Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, where a 65-year-old man was found dead after a house fire in the Calumet Heights neighborhood. (WGN-TV)


No indications fatal South Side fire was suspicious, officials said.
A man in his 60s was found dead after a house fire in the Calumet Heights neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

The man was found dead in a home in the 9100 block of South Crandon Avenue after emergency crews were called to the scene about 1:30 p.m., Chicago police spokeswoman Officer Bari Lemmon and Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said. Authorities had varying ages for the man, but he was believed to be in his 60s, Langford said.

The original call indicated a person with an infirmity might be trapped in the fire, which compelled responders to bring additional equipment to the scene. Only one fire hose was needed to extinguish the blaze, which caused significant damage to the interior of the trilevel home, Langford said.

The front of the house sustained the heaviest damage, though the man was found dead near a side entrance to the home, near the kitchen, Langford said. The fire blew out the front of the home but did not damage the main part of the brick building, he said.
There were no indications the fire was suspicious, Langford said. Although fire officials will wait for an autopsy to determine the man's cause of death, initial indications were that he died from fire-related causes, he said.

Despite the cold, firefighters did not encounter water supply problems while fighting the fire, Langford said.

WATER HEATER EXPLOSION PARTIALLY DESTROYS HOTEL IN LUDLOW, VERMONT



Water Heater Explosion Partially Destroys Hotel in Ludlow, Vermont

Vermont fire officials say an explosion in an oil-fired water heater has destroyed part of a motel in Ludlow.

Tuesday, Jan 6, 2015 • Updated at 12:05 PM EST

Vermont fire officials say an explosion in an oil-fired water heater has destroyed part of a motel in Ludlow.

No one was in in the building at time of the explosion and no injuries have been reported.
The assistant state fire marshal says the explosion was in a two-story annex of the Best Western and contained about three to four guest rooms.

He says the explosion caused severe structural damage and the building is thought to be a total loss of around $500,000.

Authorities say the explosion is not considered to be suspicious. 

FOUR POLICE OFFICERS, WOMAN INJURED IN BERWYN, CHICAGO APARTMENT FIRE



FOUR POLICE OFFICERS, WOMAN INJURED IN BERWYN, CHICAGO APARTMENT FIRE


An apartment fire in suburban Berwyn early Wednesday left one resident and four police officers injured, authorities said.
The fire broke out in a second-floor apartment about 1 a.m. in the 3200 block of Maple Avenue, fire officials said.
Police officers rescued a woman from the apartment where the fire started, according to fire officials.
The woman, who is believed to be in her 40s, was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood to be treated for burns and smoke inhalation, said Berwyn Fire Chief Denis O'Halloran. The woman was listed in serious condition.
Four Berwyn police officers were also injured in the fire. The officers were taken to an area hospital, where two officers were treated for smoke inhalation, O'Halloran said. The extent of the other officers' injuries was not immediately available.
The fire was struck out about 4:15 a.m., O'Halloran said. As of Wednesday morning, authorities were on the scene investigating to determine the cause of the blaze.
Berwyn police could not provide any information about the injured officers early Wednesday.

TIPS TO PREVENT COLD-WEATHER DISASTERS INSIDE YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS





TIPS TO PREVENT COLD-WEATHER DISASTERS INSIDE YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS





THE SEVERE COLD AND THE LACK OF SNOW INSULATION HAVE ALLOWED THE FROST TO PENETRATE THE GROUND VERY DEEP.  THIS IS RECIPE FOR A LARGER THAN AVERAGE PIPE FREEZE-UPS AND SUBSEQUENT BURST

The severe cold and the lack of snow insulation have allowed the frost to penetrate the ground very deep.  This is recipe for a larger than average pipe freeze-ups and subsequent burst.
Warning: the severe cold and the lack of snow insulation have allowed the frost to penetrate the ground very deep.  This pattern is similar to the winter of 2003.  That winter, we saw a significant number of pipes bursting from the deep cold and the lack of insulation from snow.  The next 10 days look very cold and we would not be surprised if we started seeing some problems similar to that year.  If you have issues with pipes freezing in your house or condominium or business it is a good idea to leave closets and cabinets open if there are water pipes behind those walls.  Closed, unheated spaces will stay very cold and are often the source of pipes bursting.
Running water won’t freeze so you can also leave the water dripping if you have seen issues in the past.  This may not prevent the freeze-up, but at least will reduce the pressure on the pipe.
As always, the water leak will not occur until the pipe is defrosted or thawed.

//__________________________________//
frozen pipe and meter prevention tips to prevent frozen pipes
Keeping cold temperatures away from pipes and water meters with insulation is far easier and less expensive than replacing pipes that freeze and burst.
Our website offers information on what property owners can do before freezing weather, signs of a possible frozen pipe or meter, and steps to take in the event of a frozen or damaged water pipe or meter. Some actions customers can take to prevent frozen pipes include:
Letting a faucet fed by pipes exposed to the cold drip to prevent the water inside from freezing.
Never completely shutting off the heat in a building unless all the pipes and toilets are drained first.
Keeping the doors to rooms where the pipes and water meter are located, including sink cabinets, open so warm air can keep temperatures above freezing.
Eliminating cold drafts near water pipes (and, if indoors, the water meter) by filling cracks in walls and around windows, replacing broken glass, and installing storm windows on basement windows.
It is the responsibility of property owners to keep pipes and water meters from freezing and making appropriate service calls. If a meter freezes, the water utility company will send a service technician to replace it, but the company will not thaw frozen pipes or repair burst ones.
We also want to stress that anyone trying to thaw a pipe on their own should never use a torch or
open flame.  We would recommend contacting a licensed plumber.




//________________________________________//
GREAT BEND, Kansas – Plumbing crews across Kansas have been busy fixing frozen and ruptured pipes due to the extremely cold temperatures.
“It’s this time of year when the temperature starts dropping like it does, and we’ve got major, major calls coming in right now,” said Barry Stalcup, owner of M&F Comfort Pro.
“We have had some freezing pipes and hydrants bursting and water coming out of the ground,” said Kirk Urban, a plumber and HVAC specialist.
To prevent this, Urban recommends heating your home to at least 60 degrees and letting tap water trickle through the pipes overnight. It’s also a good idea to make sure vents on the outside of the house are sealed against the wind.
“Some of them will have doors on them that will shut, going under there and actually putting something in front of it may maybe just a chunk of wall insulation in that cavity space would help to keep it sealed,” said Urban.
Keeping outside vents covered is important but also is unhooking hoses from faucets. It lets the water drain out and prevents the pipe from freezing and splitting.
“This shows you that when they’re put together the water actually stops back here, so this tube here has to drain. When there’s a hose on it, it doesn’t allow that to drain and then it splits,” said Stalcup.
With more extreme cold on the way, he says protecting your pipes now will prevent bigger problems later.
One of the first indications of a frozen pipe is no longer having hot water. If you call a plumber right away, they might be able to fix it before the pipe ruptures.

Did you know that one of the first indications of a frozen pipe is no longer having hot water?

When the weather gets colder, you can take several preventative measures so you don’t find yourself in a fix. Anderson said the biggest mistake people make is not protecting their property in the first place.
“In the winter time when it’s really cold and you know you have regular problems with freezing, I would turn on the faucet just barely let it trickle,” advised Anderson. “You can also, and should also, if you know you have regular problems, open the doors [under your kitchen sink] to allow ambient heat to get into the plumbing.”
He said another common problem is hoses left hooked up in the winter.
“The water can’t drain out of that so it’ll freeze,” said Anderson.
He said when homeowners go to use the hose in the spring, the hose may burst and they won’t know until it’s turned on.
If your pipes do freeze, Anderson advises calling the professionals who will bring the proper equipment to make repairs.
“This heat sends voltage in between these two electrodes and warms up the piping in between,” demonstrated Anderson.
This device they use works similar to a car battery. It heats up the pipe to thaw it out, a much safer method than using a torch or heat gun, which experts say you should never use.
Unprotected pipes and water meters can freeze and expand within hours of the onset of frigid weather. Pipes running through uninsulated exterior walls or other unheated spaces usually are at the highest risk, although pipes in heated rooms can freeze if exposed to cold drafts. The older copper lines and the older plumbing in general can be at more of a risk.
//_________________________//
Tips to prevent cold-weather disasters inside your home or business

Larry and Debbie Barnes took a few precautionary steps to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself when temperatures drop well below freezing this week.
Larry and Debbie, who co-own Jackson Industrial Sales, returned home to find their house flooded after water pipes froze and broke in January 2014.
Larry said the problem began when a line that carries cold water to the hot water heater froze.
“The hot water heaters are still upstairs,” Larry said. “But, what I did, I covered the pipes with PVC foam covering. But the primary thing to watch for is the outside faucets. We recommend some sort of faucet (cover) to prevent freezing.”
Additional steps, especially when he and Debbie leave town, include cutting off water at the main, and flushing and turning off all toilets.
Larry said he upgraded and insulated pipes.
“You want to make sure the outside vents are closed, and make sure no water hose is connected,” Larry said. “We were out of our house from January through April. We had to redo the hardwood and tile flooring, and we got back in the house in May.”
Larry said the same severe weather didn’t affect the facility that houses their business, which is located at 224 State St.
“No complications there,” Larry said. “The warehouse is cold, and it’s too expensive to make it comfortable like an office. We keep the temperature in the 40s, and hopefully it will be OK.”
Roger Smith, partner at Thompson & Smith Insurance, said frozen pipes at a business can affect more than someone’s livelihood.
“We insure warehouses and doctor’s offices, and frozen pipes can affect their ability to open,” Smith said. “It’s not just the homeowner, but if you do have an incident with a burst water line in your home or business, call your agent immediately, no matter the time or day.”
Smith said the agent should be able to get you some assistance in getting the source of the damage repaired while getting the cleanup started on the property in question to minimize the damage.
“If your home or business has a foundation crawlspace, make sure all vents and access points are closed, and make sure to disconnect hoses from exterior faucets,” Smith said. “If the extent to which your agent helps you is in providing a phone number to the insurance company to report the claim, you may need a new agent.”
Charlie Garrett of Garrett’s Plumbing & Heating has his own laundry list of items when dealing with frigid temperatures.
“People don’t think about it, but dripping water goes a long way,” Garrett said. “Drip both hot and cold, because a hot water heater can freeze. The basic things, you just forget about them after about two days into a hard freeze. It can just create damages that are not fun.”
Garrett said the homeowner should open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to pipes, and recommended finding a comfortable setting for your thermostat, and leaving well enough alone.
Some residents may use alternative heating, which can cause more problems than frozen pipes.
“The common problems we see are people trying to heat with the oven or cook stove,” Alamo’s Brad Laman, HLC (Cullipher) LLC, said. “Using outside heaters inside puts off carbon monoxide, and they are not approved for inside use.”
Laman said other problems are created when someone removes gas grill bottles from their grill, and brings them into their home and attaches them to a heater.
“They are not designed to be inside the house, and if they leak, gas will be leaking inside the house, or if the pressure-relief valve releases, it will release propane inside the house.”
Laman added another common problem exists when flammable items are located too close to a heater.
“Ideally, you need a four-foot space around the heater,” Laman said. “We’re lucky we don’t have more house fires.”
Roger Smith said when the temperature hits the teens or colder, as it will today, that’s when claims are filed.
“In March 2014, we probably had eight to 10 claims, claims that exceeded the deductible,” Smith said. “When we get down in the teens … that’s when people need to be conscious.”




//______________________________//
To keep your home safe during this cold spell, Metropolitan recommends the following:
Pipes
·         Disconnect garden hoses before cold weather comes. A connected hose could cause the short length of pipe that goes into the house to freeze and burst.
·         Insulate pipes in the attic and crawl spaces.
·         If your home or business has a foundation crawlspace, make sure all vents and access points are closed.
·         When freezing weather hits, allow a slow drip from hot and cold faucets. This will relieve pressure on the system and allow water to circulate.
·         Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to pipes.
·         Set your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees.
·         Consider a leak alarm or automatic water shutoff system.
·         If a pipe does freeze and burst, make sure everyone in your home knows where the main water shutoff valve is.
The Fire Department urges residents to use extreme caution with supplemental heating units during cold weather.
Having a working smoke alarm and home escape plan dramatically increases your chances of surviving a fire. Carbon-monoxide detectors are also recommended whenever gas-burning appliances are used within the home.
Space heaters
•Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn — including furniture, blankets, curtains and paper products.
•Choose space heaters that turn off automatically if they tip over.
•Never use a space heater to dry clothing.
•Turn off space heaters before you go to bed.
•In a kerosene heater, use only the proper fuel.
•Refuel a heater outside, after it has cooled.
Fireplaces and wood stoves
•Have a service person inspect and clean your chimney or wood stove each year.
•Use a metal or glass fireplace screen to keep sparks from hitting nearby carpets or furniture.
•Keep air inlets on wood stoves open.
•Keep kindling, paper and decor away from fireplaces and wood stoves.
•Never use gas or lighter fluid to start a fireplace or wood stove.
•Burn only seasoned hardwood. Burning soft, moist wood causes a lot of creosote build-up and can cause a chimney fire.
•Don’t burn cardboard boxes, newspapers or trash. They burn too hot and can cause a chimney fire.
•Be sure vent pipes extend at least three feet above the roof.
•Install stovepipe thermometers to check flue temperatures.
•Follow manufacturer’s instructions for installing and maintaining fireplaces and wood stoves.
Electric wall heaters
•Temperature control units may automatically turn themselves on when the temperature drops below the thermostat setting.
•Because they do not operate in summer months these units are often forgotten about and may have furniture and other combustible items located within close proximity.
•Electric wall heaters should be checked to ensure no combustible materials are located within at least a three-foot radius.
•The units should be inspected prior to the onset of cold weather.
Don’t forget family pets — bring them indoors. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
Set your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees and keep kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors open so the heat can reach pipes.
Insulate pipes in the attic and crawl spaces. Run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent pipes from freezing.
Be very cautious if you are using heat other than the HVAC system in your house. Do not leave “space heaters” to operate without someone being near, place all combustibles at least 3 feet away from the heater, and do not fall asleep while using one.