Question

Liquid oxygen (LOX) is used in the aerospace industry, steel industry, electric power plants, and hospitals.

A hospital is installing their own bulk oxygen system due to their large volume of consumption. OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.104(b)(2)(iii) requires owners of bulk oxygen systems to provide noncombustible surfacing in areas where liquid oxygen might leak during operation of the system or during the filling of a storage container. If the hospital provides an asphalt surface in areas where oxygen could potentially leak, will they be in compliance? Explain your answer.

In a another scenario, what actions should an emergency-response crew take to protect lives, property, and the environment at a collision scene involving separate spills of liquid oxygen and automobile fuel?

Answer 1

liquid oxygen is a volatile substance and can readilty change into gas phase . If it comes into contact with organic material such as asphalt, it can easily catch on fire and explode. Hence the hospital has not coplied with.

As liqud oxygen vaporizes, it creates a dense cloud of concentrated oxygen. This mixes with asphalt and oxygen cloud suppliments combustion.

Since prevention is better than cure. one has to ensure that no one goes to that place. when liquid oxygen spills on asphalt, the area should be free from people for at least more than 30 minutes.