As I say each year, the International Fire Code (IFC) is being used in 42 states, D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico. This code, dating all the way back to 1993 when I began my career in chemical processing, has always required much of what we apply in OSHA PSM/EPA RMP to processes that operate FAR…...
My friend and one hell of a fine process safety guru in NH3 refrigeration, Brian Chapin, is always sharing this stuff with me. This is another great example of how correlation ≠ does not cause causation. Of course, this is the extreme, but I will bet many of us have seen correlation turn into causation…...
Yes, both terms essentially mean the same thing, but they refer to very different hazardous atmospheres. LEL, or Lower Explosive Limit, applies to gases and Vapors. MEC, which is Minimum Explosive Concentration, deals with Combustible Dusts. Here are some other differences:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a...
I used AI, specifically Gemini Plus and Super Grok, to create this image from an OSHA Case File, and I was impressed. Now the image is going to be shocking, but this is a very good depiction of what was described in the case file. And I’ll bet a burger and a beer that this…...
I was recently involved with an organization that had an issue with overpressuring a 330-gallon plastic tote during their evacuation of their HHC/EHS for process work. So we had a nice discussion about the DIFFERENCE between “draining” and “venting”. The chemical in question is normally a “gas” but is stored as a liquid under pressure…....
Most people recognize Ethanol and Methanol as flammable liquids, and many of those people fail to recognize the large difference in the TOXICITY HAZARDS between these two (2) alcohols. As I wrote about during the COVID pandemic, these differences led to 28 fatalities linked to hand sanitizer made with Methanol vs. Ethanol. Those who may…...
This is a response to a client regarding their question… do we need to use non-sparking tools in our flammable and combustible dust areas? This is a GREAT practice, but many people may be surprised that OSHA has to use its GDC to cite this requirement, as it is NOT an OSHA/NFPA/IFC requirement. Of course,…...
These sleeves/pouches are a really handy tool for managing work permits. SDSs, etc., while making them highly visible. In my facilities, we used contractor work permits to control entry, scope of work, and exit for our covered processes. But most contractors had to obtain additional safe work permits for their specific work. And most of…...
As we have discussed before, this old saying is one that has stuck with me from the mid-1990’s when I learned it a process piping course. Catchy phrase – easy to remember. And I still use it, although my 2023 post made it clear it may be a thing of the past. So I asked…...
A little trick you can use when you think you have come across a misaligned flange. No special tools needed, just the key to your house! We recently came across this flange during a process walkdown and pointed it out. Some folks wanted to debate whether it was misaligned. I was 100% confident it was…...
3-way valves have grown in popularity over the past 10-15 years, as they have begun to find their way into relief systems. Today, codes allow “relief trees” to be used, so Pressure Safety Valves can be changed out without emptying and degassing the vessel. The 3-way valve is the means by which the PSV is…...
Another crazy question that I was asked a few weeks back by a friend and up-and-coming safety pro. Again, the side bar group discussions ALL said NO, the authorized employee doing the LOTO must be the one to verify ZES of the LOTO, not the “affected employee” who has nothing to do with the LO…...
