Bryan

EPA finalizes rule to ban some uses of Carbon Tetrachloride (CTC)

This week, EPA finalized a rule to ban some uses of CTC that have already ceased and establish robust workplace protections, including a Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP), including an inhalation exposure concentration limit, direct dermal contact controls, and related workplace exposurecontrols, and prescriptive controls, for uses not prohibited to address the unreasonable risk to…...

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OSHA releases detailed 2023 case data on more than 890K injuries, illnesses at over 91K workplaces

OSHA has released comprehensive data collected on more than 890,000 workplace injuries and illnesses at more than 91,000 workplaces in calendar year 2023, including incident-level details on the conditions and circumstances of injury and illness events. Federal electronic recordkeeping and reporting requirements require certain employers to use OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application to submit injury and…...

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CHARM model BLEVE catastrophic failure – theoretical outcomes for East Palestine, Ohio

There has been a lot of armchair quarterbacking regarding the decision to Vent & Burn the VC railcars in East Palestine, OH. My personal and professional opinion, knowing what I knew at the time, was that V&B was the correct decision. These decisions are always challenging to make, but failing to perform V&B on these…...

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UPDATE on the 2022 viral video of the “mechanical post knocker” hitting a gas line

The gas main explosion caused 30 homes in Wessington to be evacuated. A company and contractor have been fined after a gas main explosion led to the evacuation of 30 homes in a village. Residents were forced to leave their properties on 21 June 2022 after a worker struck the underground gas main while installing…...

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Fire Protection Servicing can be HAZARDOUS!

I have written extensively about pressurized containers in the fire safety arena catastrophically failing and leading to injuries. But this event is new to me. I have no idea what “detonators” are used for in a fire protection system; can anyone who does this for a living explain? UPDATE: Many THANKS to everyone for sending…...

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Carbon Dioxide as a Fire Suppressant: Examining the Risks (EPA)

Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the statutory authority to set phase-out dates for ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and to evaluate potential risks posed by proposed ODS substitutes. Under the terms of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, EPA promulgated regulations to phase…...

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Silicones manufacturer must pay $1.3M federal penalty, implement comprehensive safety programs after 2019 Waukegan plant explosion

A manufacturer and distributor of specialty silicone chemicals will pay $1.3 million in penalties after an explosion and fire at its Waukegan plant in May 2019 claimed the lives of four (4) workers.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reached a settlement agreement with the company after an investigation revealed the facility failed to ensure…...

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As 2024 comes to an end, our Lagging Data comes into play

I know we hear a lot about using injury rates as a leading indicator/predictor of how well the SMS is functioning. I am one of those voices! But I have always held stead fast that our lagging indicators can play a key role in painting a picture of SMS weaknesses. I have always liked how…...

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Area Classification for Oil Mists (MISTS2): Summary Report (UK’s HSE)

Many types of industrial equipment can potentially produce an explosive oil mist if a fault develops. This includes almost all equipment where oil is under pressure, such as hydraulic systems, pressurised lubrication, oil-based heat transfer systems among others. These are in widespread use and appear in many industries, such as service plant rooms and production

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When welding goes wrong: Learning from past failures (UK’s HSE)

HSE has identified inconsistencies in the application and supervision of welding of safety-critical metallic components. Such shortcomings have led to failures with high consequences such as fatalities. A study was carried out to identify common causes of these and to highlight priority areas for improvement of weld quality in industry. Cases were assessed from within

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OSHA cites API 510, 6.2 Inspection During Installation

I first wrote about this API 510 requirement in July 2019, and now OSHA seems to have caught on to this requirement; this year, they issued their first Citation against this requirement. Of course, the citation was related to a PSM-covered process. Here is the API 510 requirement for newly installed pressure vessels and the…...

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Pressure Test gone BAD (Fire Hose #2)

Employee #1, a firefighter, was performing a pressurized hose test on a 4-inch fire hose. The employee was standing at the pump panel of the fire truck next to the discharge point where the hose was connected by a 2.5-inch double female adapter to the 3.5-inch fitting on the truck. The hose was being brought…...

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