I added this video to the library this weekend. This is a FATALITY video, so it is labeled GRAPHIC; however, it’s not gory. I share these videos with members because sometimes showing what an accident looks like can get people’s attention. Just understand, we can NOT scare workers into working safely. This is a GUARDING…...
This event involved argon, a simple asphyxiant gas. The facility stored its Argon cylinders inside the 47,000 sq ft building, approximately 55 ft from where the workers were overcome. The Technical Sales representative from National Welders responded to the scene and tested for oxygen deficiency. He tested the system line at 100 psi, which revealed…...
One of my most debated topics at SAFTENG is my writings/ramblings about the critical role that a Management of Change (MOC) plays in ALL of safety, not just PSM. I’ve been involved in numerous non-PSM/RMP accidents that can be traced to poor or non-existent change management. One fatal event last year involved simply moving a…...
Don’t get me wrong, managers out in the plant wearing all the PPE and talking safety with their teams is a HUGE boost to safety (when it’s done consistently and well). I learned about “safety contacts” while at Great Lakes Chemicals in the mid-90s and used them at all my sites afterward. They have had…...
Workers were weatherproofing the outer layer of a large ammonia storage tank when contractor-operated equipment struck a bleed pipe, causing an unplanned release of ammonia. Two (2) workers were exposed to ammonia, one worker suffering fatal injury and the other worker suffering minor injuries. NOTE: Another case of an EEBA not working because it was…...
While moving a mattress, employees accidentally bumped a stove knob, turning on the gas, which was left on overnight. This allowed gas to accumulate inside the camper. When the supervisor entered the unit, fresh air mixed with the propane, creating a flammable concentration. Once the power for lighting was restored, the ignition occurred, resulting in…...
An error in “requalification” of the 60-pound cylinder and an “overfilling event” led to the spectacular catastrophic failure of the 60-pound cylinder. The 60-pound propane cylinder split open instantly, releasing all of its contents. The force of the explosion ripped the metal cylinder cage door off its hinges, dented and deformed other propane cylinders in…...
The moral of this story, as we do in Emergency Response, is NEVER to rely on a single data source for critical safety information about the chemicals we work with. In ER, we are REQUIRED to use at least three (3) recognized data sources when developing our response plan and making decisions. SDSs can have…...
An apparent accidental fire from welding brought 11 fire agencies out to the foundry. The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) said they assisted 11 fire agencies with a building fire at the foundry on Sunday, just before 9:30 p.m. All employees were safely evacuated with no reported injuries, and “initial concerns for chemical exposure were…...
Principles don’t work when safety is not a value among the people they are meant to guide. In the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People“, Stephen R. Covey discusses the difference between principles and values. He does so to show the difference in those “highly effective people”. I want to use the same…...
My team can bring a lot of RISK REDUCTION to your HIGH RISK activities (i.e., SIF) by simply working with you on your: 1) Control of Hazardous Energy (i.e., LOTO) 2) Permit-Required Confined Space Entries, and 3) Electrical Safety Related Work Practices (ESRWP) No fanfare or shiny objects. Just hardcore safety, exceeding OSHA minimums, and…...
I was taught to do this by ALL my former bosses. My goal was to bring everyone up to my safety expectations while recognizing that “building” means consensus. The idea is that when I had to compromise my expectations, I was ALWAYS still on the right side of the line, pulling others toward me, even…...
