What is Methanol? Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, has the chemical formula of CH3OH. In the early 20th century it was also referred to as wood alcohol because it was once produced by the distillation of wood. Today it’s mainly produced industrially by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide.

Methanol is a simple alcohol, consisting of a methyl group linked to a hydroxyl group.
It’s a light, colorless and flammable liquid with a distinctive odor, similar to ethanol or drinking alcohol except much more toxic.

In the United States, Methanol is typically a “tight-fill” (closed-loop) loading operation and is loaded into rail cars via loading arms. Methanol, if not handled properly can be fatal and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required. Additionally, because operators are on top of the vehicles during the loading process, fall prevention is essential, not only for safety but increases throughput.