Keep in mind the following was published in 1997 in Managing the risks of organizational accidents by James Reason. And he was not the first to say it, but he may have been the best at explaining it! Many organizations could make substantial improvements in their safety performance if they would just start measuring the…...
All bollards have limitations. Most are designed to stop a 12,000-pound vehicle traveling at 10-mph. Most non-commercial vehicles will weigh far less than 12,000 pounds; however, 18-wheelers will weigh far more than 12,000-pounds. These are the bollards that are the ones that are 4″ steel pipes filled with concrete and buried at least 3′ into…...
On or about September 18, 2018, EPA conducted an inspection of Respondent’s Facility to determine compliance with Section 112(r) of the CAA and 40 C.F.R. Part 68. Information gathered during the EPA inspection revealed that Respondent had greater than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia in a process at its facility. From the time Respondent first…...
Recently a fire district posted a video of a HIT occurring on a gasoline storage tank at a residence in Alaska. In their posting, they called the event a BLEVE and technically speaking we can see (as I show below) that this event was NOT a BLEVE. A Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) is…...
One of the questions that we all seem to get about Confined Spaces is the “service bays” at vehicle repair shops like your quick oil change shops where you position your vehicle over an open pit. Under the floor, there is a room where the technician enters via a set of stairs in order to…...
We finally have some “sort of” official definitions from OSHA of what a cloth face covering, surgical mask, and respirator are and how they differ. The new guidance outlines the differences between cloth face coverings, surgical masks, and respirators. It further reminds employers NOT TO USE SURGICAL MASKS OR CLOTH FACE COVERINGS WHEN RESPIRATORS ARE…...
As promised, this is my follow-up to my previous posts regarding Ammonia Refrigeration Evaporative Condensers and the fact that they are Permit-Required Confined Spaces (PRCS). In this article, I will explain the options we have to enter these spaces and what all goes into each entry option. Before we get into each entry option, it…...
After an investigation by OSHA, a grain elevator business in Illinois was cited $205,106 and placed on the Severe Violator Enforcement Program for failing to provide safety protections to its employees. A worker suffered fatal injuries after falling into a grain bin at its Grant Park facility. OSHA cited the business for two willful and…...
Anyone who follows my ramblings knows that I am a big fan of bollards. I have written about them and shared dozens of incidents where a properly designed and installed bollard saves the day and more often than not I am sharing incidents with “fake” bollards where something was destroyed because the bollard was IMPROPERLY…...
A safety feature(flanged connection)failure in a refrigeration system released 10 to 20 lbs of ammonia intended to be contained. The ammonia refrigeration system is designed to operate at 250 Psig. The system uses welded or flanged connections to connect components such as compressors, condensers, evaporators, and liquid receivers. Piping and fittings including flanges, different types…...
PSM/RMP covered processes that operate above 15 psi will have relief valves to protect pressure containing components such as vessels, piping, pumps, compressors, etc. It is standard practice that these relief valves get changed out at least every five (5) years or so; please follow your RAGAGEP and/or the RV manufacturer instructions for specific change/test…...
Immediate Action Required During a recent internal review, 3M discovered a potential issue involving certain versions and lots of the size-medium 3M™ Half Facepiece Disposable Respirators 5000 Series. In a limited number of instances, we have observed a pinhole in the chin area of the faceseal. This affects only certain 5200 (MEDIUM) respirators that were…...
