Goodhart’s law says… “When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.” This “law” is often used when denouncing poorly devised safety metrics and/or incentive programs. In most situations where there is a weak/immature Safety Process/SMS, the “law” makes sense; however, this is because, without strong leadership and a functioning Safety Process/SMS,…...
Is “Goodhart’s Law” a reality in safety metrics? Read More »
Yesterday, I went to my local mechanic to have my oil changed and my tires rotated. It took me 20 years to find this shop, and they hit a home run every time. But yesterday was quite entertaining, and I could not help but think, “We are not alone” after what I witnessed. A gentleman…...
Line Break is commonly associated with OSHA’s Highly Hazardous Chemicals in its PSM standard and EPA’s Extremely Hazardous Substances in its RMP rule. But SAFTENG members know I use Line Break Safe Work Practice (SWP) outside the PSM/RMP process battery limits. I apply this SWP to energy sources such as steam and even water when…...
Line Break gone bad (Water Truck) Read More »
How times have changed in 30 years regarding “materials of construction” in hazardous materials processes. I grew up in process safety, seeing nothing but metallic piping systems; today, I bet I see piping systems made from non-metallic products upwards of 25% of the time. This is becoming increasingly acceptable in one specific process I do…...
Examination and Testing of NON-metalic piping systems (ASME B31) Read More »
This article applies to BOTH facilities practicing process safety and basic OSH. Many of the facilities will declare they have and utilize a Safety Management System (SMS) in their efforts to manage hazards and risks those hazards pose to workers, the environment, and the business. However, I have developed five (5) simple tests to determine…...
Top 5 signs your not managing safety via a SMS Read More »
In the social media “safety sphere,” it is literally impossible to spend five minutes and not be bombarded by all the new approaches to “safety.” In many of these new approaches, they will almost unilaterally denounce the traditional approach to safety management and provide case studies to prove their point. Maybe I am just an…...
[My] Weekly Thought on Safety… give a SMS a chance Read More »
Most PSSR forms we encounter simply regurgitate OSHA’s 1910.119(i)(2). If the user is thoroughly knowledgeable of what each of these four (4) line items entails, we may be able to execute the PSSR appropriately. Let’s look at these four line items, especially the first line. 1910.119(i)(2) The pre-startup safety review shall confirm that prior to…...
What am I saying when I sign-off on the first line of my PSSR? (Piping) Read More »
The two (2) terms sound similar and will conjure up similar images when we hear them, but they are used in the ASME B31 piping standards in very different ways and apply to different groups. To state it very simply, the EXAMINATION is what the owner/operator does to pass the INSPECTION, which is what the…...
ASME B31 Examination vs. Inspection Read More »
The business benefits to be obtained from employee engagement are huge. Studies have shown that (a) where employee engagement was low, companies had 62% more safety incidents (Harter, Schmidt, Killham, & Asplund, 2006); and (b) where employee engagement was high, engaged employees were five times less likely to experience a safety incident, and seven times…...
Safety Thought of the Week… Employee Engagement Read More »
An internal failure of a heat exchanger caused ammonia gas to leak through and absorb into the circulating liquid brine for the underfloor loop. The ammonia within the liquid brine spilled out of the expansion tank, pooling within an open sump in the mechanical room. The heat exchanger needed to be replaced as it was…...
Corroded internal tube in Heat Exchanger leads to NH3 release Read More »
Let’s have a little fun while we challenge your knowledge of human factors. Which speed control sign is most effective, and which would be the least effective? NOTE: If you have attended one of my safety training courses where I use this in the HF training, don’t ruin it for others… Membership Required You must...
Which speed control sign is most effective, and which would be the least effective? Read More »
Respondent owns and operates an ammonia refrigeration system at its ice cream novelty manufacturing facility, which maintained a maximum inventory of the regulated toxic substance anhydrous ammonia at the Facility, exceeding the threshold quantity of 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. The ammonia refrigeration system at the Facility services 3 freezer rooms and consists of 12…...
EPA RMP citations @ ice cream plant (NH3 & $176K w/ $85K SEP) Read More »
