Bryan Haywood

IFC and Dust-producing and dust-handling equipment with deflagration vents signages and markings

/ Combustible Dusts, Free /

Dust-producing equipment and dust-handling equipment, including but not limited to vacuums, dust collection systems, dryers, mixers, blenders, separators, conveyors, storage containers, silos, or other similar devices, shall be listed and shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended standards. 2203.2.1 Signages and markings Signages and markings shall be provided in accordance with Sections 2203.2.1.1…...

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IFC redefines “critical dust layer”

/ Combustible Dusts, Free /

A lot work has been done in the past twenty years to raise awareness and understanding of the risks associated with combustible dusts.  Between NFPA and the IFC, we have some excellent resources to design, operate and maintain areas where combustible dusts may be present.  In the 2021 IFC, the “Critical Depth Layer” was re-defined/quantified……...

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Safety Thought of the Week – Improving

/ Free, Motivational Safety Materials, Safety Management System, Safety Thought of the Week /

To improve safety performance, coherent action is required in three (3) areas: 1) technical aspects, 2) safety management, and 3) human and organizational factors These different “pillars” all influence the safety culture. It should be emphasized that, in any given company, safety priorities have undergone several phases of chronological development, with each new area of…...

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Line Break gone bad (Triethylaluminum)

/ Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP), Free /

On November 28, 1999, a blockage occurred in the South Teal Unit. The blockage or plug occurred somewhere in the recycle waste line on the second level of South Teal. This line brings crude Teal with excess aluminum to T-103, which feeds back to the reactors. During the night shift, they were able to blow…...

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Dry Compressed Air is vital to safe equipment operation (USCG)

/ Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP), Free /

A recent Coast Guard investigation involving a fire and subsequent loss of propulsion on board an inspected vessel serves as a reminder of safety issues caused by condensate forming in airlines. During the investigation, an underlying issue was discovered that caused condensate to form in airlines that supplied compressed air to the vessel’s air-operated engine…...

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Containment Pallets and their environmental limitations

/ Free, Hazardous Materials /

If you’re an EHS pro, you have certainly seen these devices.  They can add a level of safety for that loss of primary containment (LOPC) incidents or, in some cases, overfill events. image source: eagle manufacturing But these “Containment Pallets” come with some environmental limitations that are required for their safe use…… Membership Required You...

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IFC and pipe labeling… 20 feet (6096 mm) or fraction thereof

/ Free, Hazardous Materials /

The most common RAGAGEP for pipe labeling is ASME A13.1, Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems.  It is referenced in dozens of hazardous material codes, from ICC to NFPA.  In the ICC codes, specifically the International Fire Code (IFC), there is an interesting twist to the requirements for “Compressed Gases (Chapter 53).  ASME is…...

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2024 IFC addresses lithium-ion and lithium metal battery storage

/ Free, Hazardous Materials /

One of the reasons I use the International Fire Code (IFC) for my hazardous materials code over OSHA standards is that the IFC gets updated every three (3) years.  God only knows when OSHA may address lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries.  Also, the IFC and NFPA tend to be closely aligned in their design and practices…...

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Our Hard Hat and cold temps

/ Free, OSHA Compliance /

This weekend, we witnessed football helmets failing upon impact due to the frigid temperatures.  Sadly, these failures were accepted, and play continued!  But this brings about the logical question: How cold can it get before my hard hat (HH) fails when struck by a falling object? Most HH manufacturers will advertise the maximum temperature at…...

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Safety Thought of the Week – Safety is a practice; it is a process

/ Free, Motivational Safety Materials, Safety Management System, Safety Thought of the Week /

Safe and reliable performance is a process to be guided, not an outcome to be managed. Safety is wisdom. We create safety, or more importantly, we co-create safety in the RELATIONSHIP between workers, planners, managers, and the tasks being accomplished in real-time. None of those components mentioned above involves the scoring and tracking of work…...

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2024 IMC has a new PRV discharge requirement

/ Free, Hazardous Materials /

The 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) has a new Pressure Releif Valve (PRV) discharge requirement that is an interesting desing requirement.  The code has required the PRV “Discharge to a termination point that is readily visible and observable by the building occupants” for many years.  But now, the 2024 edition requires… (emphasis by me)… Membership...

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2024 IFC addresses electrical devices inside Flammable Storage Cabinets

/ Free, Hazardous Materials /

We see this from time to time: someone drills a hole in the flammable liquids storage cabinet (a major no-no) and runs a power cord inside the cabinet (another no-no), and this electrical device can pose as an ignition source.  So, the 2024 IFC added the following requirement.  NOTE:  This requirement should NEVER be needed,…...

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