Published on: February 22, 2018

Combustible substances that vapourize combined with an ignition source can cause containers to explode with deadly force

Richmond, B.C. – Reusing shipping containers for workplace or residential storage can create unseen risks to workers and the public. WorkSafeBC’s new video and safety bulletin outline these hazards and how to reduce risks.

“Shipping containers are being re-purposed all over B.C.,” says Dan Strand, Director of Prevention Field Services, WorkSafeBC. “The containers are designed to be watertight, which means they are well sealed with little or no ventilation; ideal for shipping purposes but potentially dangerous for other uses.”

Vapours or gases from common flammable or combustible substances when combined with an ignition source in a shipping container with little or no ventilation, can produce a catastrophic incident. A leak of just 1 kilogram of propane, for example, can rupture a closed shipping container; the propane tank on an average home barbecue holds 9 kilograms. A full tank can generate the same explosive force as 100 kilograms of TNT.

In 2013, in Saanich, a propane barbecue stored inside a shipping container caused an explosion that blew one of its 113-kilogram doors 40 metres, into a public park. (This video illustrates the chain of events.)

In a tragic 2011 incident, a volunteer firefighter was struck and killed by a door that blew off a shipping container while he was fighting a fire in the next building. Afterward, investigators found that the container was being used to house a collection of gas-powered tools. When the fuel vapour was exposed to extreme heat, the container exploded.

Other risks can arise from the original use of a shipping container. The floorboards may have been treated with toxic chemicals to protect cargo during shipping, or chemicals may have spilled in transit, and workers can be overcome by exposure to these chemicals.

Employers must conduct a risk assessment and include these safety controls:

• Identify whether any flammable/combustible products are being stored in a container, and if so, move them to a well-ventilated location
• Train workers in the risks and put up signs to ensure appropriate storage procedures
• If storing flammable/combustible items in a container is unavoidable, modify the container by improving ventilation, then remove any possible sources of heat or ignition, and minimize the number of workers nearby
• List the contents of your container(s) in your fire-safety plan so first responders know the potential hazards
• Find out if the floor has been contaminated with toxic chemicals. If it is, clean or replace the floor. When doing so, keep all doors open and ensure workers wear personal protective equipment such as appropriate respirators

Used safely, shipping containers can be repurposed as storage compartments, office spaces, electrical rooms, welding and painting operations — and even living spaces.

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For more information, visit worksafebc.com. For media inquiries:

Gillian Burnett
Media Relations, WorkSafeBC
Tel: 604.244.6330
Cell: 778.870.3848
Email: Gillian.Burnett@worksafebc.com

Trish Knight Chernecki
Government & Media Relations, WorkSafeBC
Tel: 604.232.5814
Cell: 778 .871.5841
Email: trish.chernecki@worksafebc.com