Bryan Haywood

Vessel Opening gone bad (Zero Energy State not obtained)

At about 2:45 a.m. on March 13, 2001, Employee #1 and Employee #2, two operators, and Employee #3, a maintenance mechanic, were assigned the task of cleaning out a waste vessel, KD 502A. The three employees were removing the flange to the pot, and had removed several of the 44 bolts holding the flange, when…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

14 psi can be “catastrophic” in a tanker truck

At 1:30 a.m. on December 6, 2024, a truck driver, 53, was unloading 40,000 pounds of salt from a dry bulk pneumatic trailer into salt brine tanks. The driver attached the truck’s power take-off to pressurize the trailer and connected the unloading hose to Salt Brine Tank #1. While standing near the pressure gauges on…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Hot Work Explosion Fatality (Angle Grinder removing bolts on manway)

At 2:45 p.m. on April 17, 2023, an employee and a manager, 49, were attempting to drain a stillage tank so that repairs could be made to its internal agitator. They needed to verify the quantity level of stillage, so they attempted to remove a manway access cover on top of the tank. They encountered…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

EPA RMP Citations @ Smelter & Refinery (SO2 & $211K)

Respondent is the “owner or operator” of the Facility that uses, handles, and/or stores as much as 7,810 pounds of sulfur dioxide (anhydrous). Respondent’s RMP describes a covered process, furnace off-gas handling, that is subject to Program 3 requirements. On July 25, 2022, and July 26, 2022, authorized representatives of the EPA conducted an inspection…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

EPA RMP citations @ refrigerated facility (NH3 & $150K)

Respondent is the owner and operator of a facility that utilizes Anhydrous ammonia in a refrigeration process. On or about April 30, 2024, representatives of the 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…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

The tale of a missed MOC impacting the operation of Emergency Shutoff Valves

Do you see it? The safety system. It’s right there in front of your eyes. This is a PSM-covered process involving flammable liquids. And what we are seeing is an air line made of plastic. This is intended to melt in a fire scenario, which would release the air, and the Fail-Safe-CLOSED valve will close…....

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

EPA RMP citations @ fruit packing facility (NH3 & $262K)

Respondent operated a facility (the “Facility”) that utilizes anhydrous ammonia to provide cooling capabilities to package, refrigerate, store, and ship cherries and grapes. On September 16, 2021, EPA performed and inspection of the Facility to evaluate compliance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act Section 103, EPCRA Sections 304-312, and CAA Section 112(r)…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

EPA RMP citations @ a chemical and allied product merchant wholesaler facility (NAOH, HCL, C6H13N & $298K)

Respondent has a chemical and allied product merchant wholesalers process at the Facility, meeting the definition of “process”, as defined by 40 C.F.R. § 68.3. 35. Respondent is a wholesale chemical distributor that primarily repackages, stores, and distributes industrial chemical raw materials and allied products. Hydrochloric acid (36%) is an extremely hazardous substance within the…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Would stairs with an angle between 49 and 50 degrees and a tread depth of 9.5 inches (with 8 8-inch run and a nosing of 1.5 inches) comply with 1910.25?

Question: Would stairs built after January 17, 2017, be in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.25(c)(3) if they have an angle between 49 and 50 degrees and tread depth of 9.5 inches (with 8 inches run and a nosing of 1.5 inches) as shown in the below picture?… Membership Required You must be a member to...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Can a PIT 3-year evaluation be done via a device such as a cell phone, tablet, or computer?

Background: 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(iii) states: All operator training and evaluation shall be conducted by persons who have the knowledge, training, and experience to train powered industrial truck operators and evaluate their competence…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

OSHA answers two (2) PRCS questions related to the Isolation of Piping that does NOT terminate within the space

OSHA has addressed two (2) PRCS questions related to the Isolation of Piping that does NOT terminate within the space. This was a long time coming, as NFPA 350 and several trade groups have stated that piping that does NOT terminate within the PRCS need not be isolated. OSHA agreed, as long as six (6)…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

US EPA issues citations for the CSB’s Reporting Rule (40 CFR Part 1604)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announced a settlement with an Electric Utility, resolving a violation of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the CSB’s 2020 Accidental Release Reporting rule. This is the first time EPA has taken an enforcement action and reached a settlement with…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
Scroll to Top