Filling or handling plastic or other non-conducting containers can still be hazardous when the flammable liquid is conductive. The splashing (filling) and turbulence of the liquid in the container can cause a static electric charge to build up in the liquid or on conductive parts of the container that are not adequately grounded. A spark […]
Three (3) things that a Human Error is NOT: a sin an event, and most importantly a root cause Tony Muschara, Risk-Based Thinking Managing the Uncertainty of Human Error in Operations, 2018
SPECIAL NOTE: This appears to be the first case where OSHA has applied it’s new Instance-by-Instance Penalty for Willful Citations. This case involved a leg amupation while working inside a sile with the paddle conveyor still running. OSHA issued three (3) Willfuls using 1910.28(b)(6)(i) for each citation and all three (3) were willfuls. An grain
There is a common phrase in Human Factors Engineering… “Error Trap.” This is the image we will put next to this phrase in my new book… (i.e., an actual real-life “error trap” door). Scenario: Your singing your favorite song in the shower. The spouse needs to go down to the basement and start a load
When writing SWPs/SOPs be sure how you phrase things. KNOW your audience. An elementary teacher got what she asked for when she simply asked the class to draw a clock showing the time as 10 minutes past 11. This exercise is called the Clock Drawing Test for Cognition. Usually reserved for the elderly or someone
This case is significant as EPA used the International Fire Code as their basis for several General Duty Clause findings. They also used NFPA standards in their inspection. Respondent owns and operates a facility that manufactures consumer and industrial products in liquid form and for pressurized containers that use aerosol propellants. Respondent’s manufacturing process uses
A recent FaceBook post by the South Dakota Highway Patrol is getting a lot of attention. The pics are alarming, to say the least. But some of the comments are an indication of where safety stands in the United States culture of safety. When people decry government intervention as “crossing a line,”… “that truck driver
Over the past several years, I have focused on my SMS/HF postings rather than the traditional technical postings. Being a safety pro means we wear many hats. I break these down into just two (2) main categories: 1) Technical and 2) Management Systems, including the soft skills we need to possess. Those who have followed
The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) manages the Significant Event and Information Network for its member utilities both within and outside the United States. In 1985 they issued an analysis of 180 significant event reports received in 1983- 84 (INPO 1985). A total of 387 root causes were identified. These were assigned to five
Human error can be divided into either intentional or unintentional actions. INTENTIONAL actions—those actions that involve conscious choices. These actions are primarily due to judgment or motivational processes. UNINTENTIONAL actions—those in which the right intention or plan is incorrectly carried out or where there is a failure to carry out an action. These actions typically
Before disciplining a worker for an “error” or “mistake” that led to undesired consequences, we need to ask ourselves one simple question… How often have we written 2022 when signing checks and documents this year? It is February 15th, 46 days into the new year, yet I just had to correct a document that I
In OSHA’s LOTO standard, they incorporated a requirement that required businesses to have forethought about the means used to isolate energy. Specifically, the standard requires: 1910.147(c)(2)(iii) After January 2, 1990, whenever replacement or major repair, renovation or modification of a machine or equipment is performed, and whenever new machines or equipment are installed, energy isolating
