DAILY Ex - 28 SEPTEMBER 2026

⚡ DAILY Ex - 28 SEPTEMBER 2026

Explosion Protection | Operational Ex | Global Watch

Today’s set deliberately avoids recycling the IEC 60079 - 46, Ex-repair and hydrogen items covered over the last few days. The strongest fresh signals are a gas-plant fire in Nigeria, a sugar-plant fire in Azerbaijan, new combustible-dust regulation approaching in Canada, and process-safety discussions opening today in Australia.

▶️ GAS PLANT FIRE - AN EXTERNAL IMPACT BECOMES THE INITIATING EVENT

CURRENT | Nigeria - 27 September

A vehicle reportedly crashed into a cooking-gas sales plant at Liberty Junction, Kubwa, Abuja yesterday morning, triggering a major fire. Nigeria’s emergency authorities coordinated the response; nearby buildings were badly affected and responders continued dampening the site because of the possibility of secondary explosions. https://pressreleasenaija.com.ng/nema-coordinates-response-to-gas-plant-fire-in-kubwa/

The important Ex lesson is not yet the detailed cause — investigation continues.

It is the initiating event:

vehicle impact → loss of containment → flammable release → ignition → escalation.

We spend considerable effort controlling electrical and mechanical ignition sources inside hazardous areas. But ask another question:

Can a forklift, truck, crane or road vehicle physically destroy the containment that prevents the hazardous atmosphere in the first place?

For LPG, hydrogen, solvent and gas installations, layout and impact protection are Ex barriers too.

▶️ COMBUSTIBLE DUST - FIRE AT SUGAR PLANT

CURRENT | Azerbaijan - 27 September

A warehouse fire occurred yesterday at the Imishli Sugar Plant. Fire services from several surrounding districts were deployed and extinguished the fire; no medical assistance was reported as required. The incident is under investigation. https://dailybaku.az/en/article/fire-breaks-out-at-imishli-sugar-plant

There is currently no verified evidence that this was a dust explosion, so it should not be presented as one.

But sugar processing deserves particular Ex attention because combustible dust can be generated during handling, conveying and storage.

Operational question after any fire in a combustible-dust facility:

Could the initial fire disturb accumulated dust and create the conditions for a secondary explosion?

Fire response plans for dust plants should consider that escalation scenario before an incident occurs.

▶️ LEGAL / REGULATORY - BRITISH COLUMBIA PREPARES FOR NEW COMBUSTIBLE-DUST RULES

CURRENT | Canada

A regulatory change worth watching outside Europe: amendments to British Columbia’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation covering combustible dusts take effect on 4 January 2027. https://www.azure.worksafebc.com/en/law-policy/public-hearings-consultations/closed-public-hearings-and-consultations/bod-approves-amendments-to-oshr-and-prevention-manual

Industry guidance published this month is already telling affected companies to prepare. The revised framework emphasises documented combustible-dust risk assessment, elimination/substitution where possible, engineering controls, and worker training and supervision. https://safetyalliancebc.ca/safety-topics/combustible-dust/

Why it matters operationally:

This is the same direction we repeatedly see internationally:

identify dust → understand explosibility → assess process → engineer controls → maintain them → demonstrate competence.

Different legal system.

Very familiar engineering problem.

https://www.azure.worksafebc.com/en/law-policy/public-hearings-consultations/closed-public-hearings-and-consultations/bod-approves-amendments-to-oshr-and-prevention-manual

▶️ EVENT - HAZARDS AUSTRALASIA OPENS TODAY

CURRENT | Melbourne - 28–30 September

Institution of Chemical Engineers opens Hazards Australasia 2026 today at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, co-located with Chemeca.

Its purpose is to share process-safety practice, new developments and lessons learned across Australia, New Zealand and the wider international community. https://www.icheme.org/training-events/hazards-australasia/

For Ex professionals, the important word in this year’s theme is: Integrate.

Explosion protection should connect with: HAZOP → mechanical integrity → functional safety → human factors → MoC → emergency response → Operations.

An excellent HAC cannot compensate for poor operational control around it.

https://www.icheme.org/training-events/hazards-australasia/

▶️ COMPETENCE - CERTIFICATE ≠ CURRENT COMPETENCE

GOOD PRACTICE

A useful principle from current Ex repair training programmes is periodic reassessment. For example, the Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades recommends technicians return every three years for updating and comprehensive reassessment as part of their competence record.

That illustrates a broader Operational Ex principle.

Competence It is: knowledge + practical capability + relevant experience + current standards + task-specific authorization.

For contractor mobilisation, check the person, the task and the currency of competence.

▶️ OPERATIONAL Ex USE CASE - THE TEMPORARY IBC

PRACTICAL

Production needs extra solvent capacity for two weeks.

An IBC is placed beside the process and connected with a temporary hose.

Nothing permanent has changed.

But potentially: release source changed → transfer frequency changed → electrostatic behaviour changed → bonding arrangement changed → hose changed → hazardous-area extent changed → vehicle interaction changed.

The dangerous word here is: temporary.

Temporary equipment can create permanent consequences.

Treat temporary plant modifications through the same basic logic: assess → authorize → define controls → set expiry → inspect → remove or formalise.

▶️ GOOD ENGINEERING PRACTICE - LOOK BEYOND IGNITION SOURCES - reinforced by yesterday’s Abuja incident

During the next hazardous-area walkdown, do something different.

Start with: “What keeps the flammable material inside?”

Look at: hoses // flanges // seals // flexible connections // vehicle barriers // pipe supports // corrosion // drains // temporary connections.

Explosion prevention begins one step earlier than ignition-source control:

prevent the explosive atmosphere from being created.

▶️ TODAY’S Ex QUESTION

Pick one gas, solvent or powder unloading point.

Stand where the delivery vehicle actually moves.

Then ask:

“What happens if the driver makes a mistake?”

Wrong connection? Drive-away while connected? Vehicle impact? Overfill? Hose rupture? Wrong product? Bonding omitted?

If the answer to every scenario is: “The driver should follow the procedure,”

you may have an opportunity for a stronger engineered barrier.

Daily Ex

Operational Ex is not only about controlling ignition.

First ask what prevents the hazardous atmosphere from being created - and whether that barrier can survive a very ordinary human mistake.