OSHA’s inspection emphasis on flammable liquids
Regional OSHA activity and compliance publications over the past month highlight renewed inspection scrutiny surrounding flammable liquid transfer, storage, and bonding/grounding:
NIOSH releases report on Maine Lumber Mill silo fire and subsequent explosion that killed two firefighters and critically injured 13 more
NIOSH has released its Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation report regarding the Maine Lumber Mill COM DUST explosion. Lots of learnings in this report. Fire origin and explosion cause The State Fire Marshal’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) cause-and-origin preliminary investigation classified the fire as accidental. It indicated that the area
OSHA looks to recind the Construction Lighting standards
I almost never write about construction safety matters as I do not practice in that safety arena. But lighting crosses all industrial sectors, and this effort by OSHA to recind the Construction Lighting standard(s): 1926.26 and 1926.56 is very puzzling to me. 29 CFR 1926.26 requires construction areas, aisles, stairs, ramps, runways, corridors, offices, shops,
Chemical Safety Regulatory Alignment Pressure
A coalition of 75 major industry organizations (led by the American Chemistry Council) submitted a joint petition to OSHA, the EPA, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Goal is to establish a single, unified federal chemical safety standard to eliminate conflicting regulatory requirements between OSHA standards and the EPA’s Toxic Substances Control
The CSB warns about “Line Breaks gone bad”
The CSB examines two (2) high-consequence incidents in 2025 that were caused by workers mistakenly disassembling the wrong equipment.
Proposed Changes for the 2027 IFC
The development of the 2027 edition is currently underway, with several proposals aimed at industrial operations and complex facilities:
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection and the 2024 IFC
The 2024 IBC and IFC now require CO alarms or detection systems for all types of occupancies. Previously, the focus was only on residential and schools.
Line Break Gone Bad – Maintenance Mechanic Dies After Being Burned by Hot Boric Acid Solution While Removing Pump
In July 2012, a 64-year-old maintenance mechanic at an aluminum foil processing facility died after being exposed to an approximately 180-degree Fahrenheit solution of boric acid and water while trying to remove a recirculation pump from its housing. The pump was part of a boric acid evaporation system. The system took several days to completely
Water hose fails during transfer, killing water truck driver
On August 19, 2019, at approximately 3:00 p.m., a 67-year-old male water truck operator, working as a seasonal employee, sustained severe head injuries when a pressurized water hose burst and he was knocked to the ground. He died two days later from his injury. The victim’s employer was a cooperative of almond growers that provided
Hydrostatic Pressure Test gone bad (49-year-old pipefitter killed)
I have written a lot about the hazards of “pressure testing” piping, and in all of those posts I have stated how much “safer” Hydrostatic Testing is, compared to pneumatic testing. But this fatal accident shows us that even hydrostatic testing comes with fatal risks. During a hydrostatic pressure test of a fire suppression system,
Understanding the PRCS Ventilation table from “AT&T Standard Section 620-140-501” (1976 edition)
The AT&T Standard Section 620-140-501 (often referred to as Bell System Practice, or BSP, 620-140-501), published in June 1976, is a foundational safety document for the telecommunications industry. It outlines the strict procedures for testing, purging, and ventilating manholes and other confined spaces before and during employee entry. Because telecommunications workers frequently operate in underground
Using AI to establish my ventilation rate for a Permit-Required Confined Space entry using OSHA’s Alternative Entry option 1910.146(c)(5) or 1926.1203(e)
I have a 10,000-gallon storage tank that I need to ventilate with forced-air ventilation. My program states I need to achieve at least 7 air changes per hour. What CFM blower do I need to achieve this? This is the question I asked Google Gemini 3.1 Pro, and I’ll be damned, it was SPOT ON!