Many thanks to Luke Dam, CEO of Safety Wise, for having some fun and making these SAFTENG videos. If you’re looking for a great incident investigation tool be sure to check out Luke’s company… they are worldwide and they make root cause analysis easy (something many struggle with). … Membership Required You must be...
ABSOLUTELY! One of my engineering managers early in my career was the founder of the “engineering geek squad” and was an absolute stickler for details when it came to technical matters. He always told me I was driving him to the insane asylum with my improper interchangeable use of the terms “vapor” and “gas” when…...
This morning, North of Chicago, a 2,000-gallon (8,750 pounds of NH3) nurse tank appears to have suffered a catastrophic failure releasing all 1,700 gallons/8,750 pounds of NH3 onto the road and ditches. The reason I wonder if this was in the realm of a “Worst Case Release Scenario” is that we had Temps in the…...
You’re getting ready to perform your pressure testing and the boss says the six-pack of Nitrogen or Oxygen (he can’t remember which) is out back. You walk out back and this is all you see… what do you do? By the way, pressure testing with Oxygen is illegal in most states and VERY UNSAFE in…...
Once or twice a year I check on the top 10 or 20 RMP accident histories to find any interesting trends. I have been doing this for about 12 years and since starting them, Anhydrous Ammonia always finds it’s place as the top Toxic involved. There are some who want to believe that Anhydrous Ammonia…...
Failing to report a 172-pound release of NH3 (RQ=100 pounds) via an RV to the NRC, SERC, and LEPC in a “timely manner” can be costly! Respondent is a Wisconsin corporation, with a cream cheese and yogurt manufacturing facility. At all times relevant to this CAFO, the Facility was a facility at which a hazardous…...
This CAFO both initiates and resolves an administrative action for the assessment of monetary penalties, pursuant to Section 113(d) of the CAA. As discussed below, the CAFO resolves the following CAA violations that Complainant alleges occurred in connection with Respondent ‘s storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia at its cold storage and distribution facility: failure…...
The business was convicted of one violation under the Environmental Protection Act and was fined $100,000 plus a victim fine surcharge of $25,000, with eight months to pay the fine. Background: The business operates a facility in the County of Lambton, which produces food grade carbon dioxide and is supplied with raw carbon dioxide from a…...
While doing some “Pre-Start Up Review” work for a client, I was tasked with reviewing the Emergency Response aspect of the facility’s ability to respond to an NH3 incident. As part of this review I asked the question… Have we coordinated our emergency response needs with the LEPC and the local FD(s)? This is a NEW…...
This is a reminder that despite decades of work by to improve confined space entry by maritime safety organizations, training institutions, and vessel owners/operators, the risks have NOT BEEN ELIMINATED. This is illustrated by a recent casualty where three (3) persons were asphyxiated while working onboard a laid-up Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU). Although the investigation is not…...
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This morning, we had some serious weather pass through the Cincinnati area, and many areas lost power. Ironically, I was conversing with a client in MI about emergency lighting inspections when the power at the facility where I am this week went out. Of course, this facility’s emergency lighting activated and worked properly, so employees…...
