FMCSA and PHMSA Issue Safety Advisory Over “Nurse Tanks”
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued a safety advisory over the possibility of ‘catastrophic failure’ of certain hazardous materials packages known as “nurse tanks.”
Their concern is over the stability of “nurse tanks”, stemming from an incident in August 2023 at a farm co-op lot, when a failure of a nurse tank “caused the tank shell to ‘rocket’ over 300 feet from its original location,” according to the agencies. No injuries were reported.
These agencies ‘strongly recommend’ that “owners of American Welding and Tank (AWT) nurse tanks manufactured between January 1st, 2007, and December 31st, 2011, that are exempted from periodic visual inspection and testing requirements as described above, conduct voluntary periodic visual inspection.. thickness testing.. and pressure testing” in agreement with federal regulations.
NTSB Cites Negligence as a Reason for the 2022 Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse
In a hearing on February 21st, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board said the Fern Hollow Bridge should have been “shut down years before widespread corrosion and section loss caused a collapse in 2022,” Transport Topics states.
Load rating was also a factor and should have been reduced, as it was far too high for what the bridge could safely handle.
More details are expected to come out in the NTSBs comprehensive investigation, which is expected to be fully released next month.
The NTSB also recommended changes at all levels of government to prevent future tragedies, according to Transport Topics. Some of those recommendations include: the city keeping more detailed records of repairs, working with the Pennsylvania DOT to develop a routine maintenance program, and more.
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