On August 18, 2022, EPA signed the Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention (SCCAP) rule, which proposes revisions to the Risk Management Program (RMP) to further protect vulnerable communities from chemical accidents, especially those living near facilities with high accident rates. The proposed rule would strengthen the existing program and includes new safeguards that have not…...
The probability that the total system will perform correctly when it is available is the probability that the hardware/ software will perform correctly, times the probability that the operating environment will not degrade the system operation, and times the probability that the user will perform correctly. By defining the total system this way, human performance…...
Two workers received 1st and 2nd-degree chemical burns after an ammonia leak at a food processing facility. An employee of the facility attempted to isolate the auto-purger and turn it off but was exposed to ammonia. A refrigeration technician then entered the mechanical room wearing a short-sleeve t-shirt and received chemical burns. One individual received…...
The Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama announced criminal charges today in a case involving willful violations of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards that led to a worker’s death. The charges involve an Aug. 16, 2017, incident at an Alabama plant in which a worker was…...
One of the best examples of Human Factors Engineering is seen daily when driving… street signs. We all know a STOP sign when we see one. It may be the most recognized sign in all advanced societies. Did you know that at least 35 countries use a red octagon as their stop sign? But imagine…...
Respondent engages in chemical warehousing and storage activities at the Facility. The Warehouse comprises more than 200,000 square feet of space. It is used, in part, for storing hazardous materials, including, without limitation, flammable liquids and other extremely hazardous substances that may be toxic, reactive, flammable, volatile, or corrosive as stored in the Warehouse…. Membership...
Ruptured pipe due to corrosion under insulation Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) is prevalent in major hazard plants both on and offshore, including nuclear and chemical plants, oil refineries, and offshore installations…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
The skill-based performance involves highly practiced, primarily physical actions in very familiar situations in which there is little conscious monitoring. Such actions are usually executed from memory without significant conscious thought or attention. Behavior is governed by preprogrammed instructions developed by either training or experience and is less dependent upon external conditions. Information that can…...
Human nature encompasses all the physical, biological, social, mental, and emotional characteristics that define human tendencies, abilities, and limitations. One of the innate characteristics of human nature is imprecision. Unlike a precise machine—each time, every time—people are imprecise, especially in certain situations. For instance, humans tend to perform poorly under high stress and time pressure…....
Here are the five principles of Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) explained: People make mistakes Blame fixes nothing Context drives behavior Learning is vital Response matters… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
In our profession, we live and sadly die by rules. Whether they are government regulations or company rules, unfortunately, our profession and our approach to safety were based on compliance with these rules. Luckily, by the time I came around in the early 1990s, we saw a serious shift in the chemical process industry with…...
A professional life lesson in our safety profession, from Dr. E Scott Geller… Dance with those who want to dance! Probably the best bit of advice I have ever received from a mentor. Some folks are not on board with real safety management principles; most of the time, we know who is with…...
