Recently I was at an HOA meeting for my neighborhood because of some concerns some homeowners had after a home fire. Like most folks, everyone can recognize the object to the left – quite possibly one of the most recognized safety objects of all time. And the color of the hydrant is red, but what […]
NFPA has made a major revision to NFPA 1961, Standard on Fire Hose, 2020 Edition. The new requirement that 1½ in. to 3 in. attack hose be tested in accordance with:
Respondent operates a “stationary source” and has registered an RMPlan with the EPA for its Facility and has developed an RMProgram accidental release prevention program for the stationary source. Respondent operates an ammonia refrigeration process that has on-site storage of 15,416 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. On December 11, 2018, the EPA conducted an on-site inspection
Technical Safety BC (British Columbia) has issued two new safety orders regarding ammonia in refrigeration plants. Failure to comply with the requirements of these safety orders may result in enforcement action under the Safety Standards Act and associated regulations. These two (2) safety orders are: Safety Order SO-BP-2021-01: Secondary Coolant Safety Order SO-BP-2021-02: Emergency Discharge
Back in February of this year, I posted an article on how badly broken our “Industrial Zoning” process is broken in the USA. The article was titled: “FAILURES of true “facility siting” – our “zoning” process is broken and dangerous!” and it was about a chemical plant’s pleas to the city council to not rezone
The number 1 failure that causes releases of anhydrous ammonia in agricultural and bulk transports is hose failures! Without a doubt, at a fertilizer distribution center, loading and unloading DOT containers via transfer hoses pose the greatest risk for a catastrophic event. So special attention is deserving when it comes to the hose(s) we will
The federal OSHA standard(s) are not very helpful when it comes to guidance on guarding hot surfaces and this causes many debates during audits, HAZ assessments, and Pre-Start Up Safety Reviews (PSSR). We probably are all aware of the seven (7) feet rule for guarding “fan blades”… 1910.212(a)(5) Exposure of blades. When the periphery of
Most safety professionals attribute “safe work permitting” to process safety, Line Breaks/Process Openings, LOTO, Hotwork, and PRCS. But my first exposure to work permits was because of OSHA’s Hazardous Communications standard… 1910.1200(e)(1)(ii) The methods the employer will use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks (for example, the cleaning of reactor vessels), and
NOTE: Anyone can download these pamphlets for FREE; just visit the CI bookstore and go through the purchasing process as if you were buying them and you will NOT be charged or even asked for a credit card! The Chlorine Institute (CI) has updated their Pamphlet 95, Gaskets for Chlorine Service (Ed. 6), and added
Respondent owns and operates an adhesive and sealant manufacturing facility, which employs about 30 persons, is one of several plants that Respondent operates nationwide with about 45,000 employees worldwide. In the Facility’s manufacturing processes, the facility uses various highly flammable and/or toxic chemicals that are stored in outdoor tanks ranging in size from about 5,000
Before you go off saying their standards are different than ours, these EXCEL Spreadsheets can be modified using OSHA numbers/factors. These are just EXCELLENT TOOLS for those of you trying to establish if workers are exceeding the Action Level or PEL for noise exposures AND these tools will perform the “Hearing Protection Attenuation” evaluation for
This is another hotly debated topic among my tight-knit group of fellow safety and fire protection engineers and Lord knows we have plenty of photographic and video evidence that there seems to be a large segment of the population who need help with Dispensing Fuel into Portable Containers. Hence the government has a code that
