2016 Video of the Week #32 (2016 ERG)
… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
OSHA PSM Citations @ chemical plant (Liquified flammable gas & $115K)
As part of the agency’s national emphasis program for chemical facilities, OSHA inspected the company on Feb. 6, 2016, and found multiple violations of federal process safety management regulations, including not developing set written procedures for maintaining process equipment, which resulted in repeat violations. In addition, OSHA issued citations for serious violations for the following:…...
EPA announces NEW National Enforcement Initiative: Reducing Risks of Accidental Releases at Industrial and Chemical Facilities (Fiscal Years 2017-19)
EPA has announced it will increase efforts to prevent catastrophic accidents and explosions that threaten employees and emergency responders and release chemicals that threaten human health and the environment in neighboring communities. EPA selects National Enforcement Initiatives (NEIs) every three years to focus resources on national environmental problems where there is significant non-compliance with laws, and where…...
OSHRC can not agree on what a “machine” is as it applies to LOTO (OSHRC)
Holy cow batman, have we really come to this in the safety profession?!?!?! An apprentice is crushed to death while standing inside (or technically under) a “machine” looking at some fans he was going to be working on, while the facility technician was performing the LOTO on “the machine”. To get this “machine” to the…...
Is the state of IL moving fast enough to improve process safety @ NH3 Ag retail facilities?
The state of IL has passed some Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) regulations that will require retail Ag fertilizer businesses to:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
OSHA Penalty Adjustments to Take Effect August 1, 2016
In November 2015, Congress enacted legislation requiring federal agencies to adjust their civil penalties to account for inflation. The Department of Labor is adjusting penalties for its agencies, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA’s maximum penalties, which were last adjusted in 1990, will increase by 78%. Going forward, the agency will continue…...
2016 Photo of the Week #31 (A sign you may have a speeding problem in your plant)
With all pun intended, this is a REAL speed limit sign with solar panel and a digital readout that was run over, we are pretty sure intentionally, at a plant. Speed was a concern on this road within the facility so HR and management wanted to “provide feedback” so that people knew they were speeding…....
EPA RMP General Duty Clause Citations @ chemical plant (Hexane & $37K)
Respondent owns and operates a chemical plant to produce many grades of high density polyethylene (HDPE). On August 2, 2015, Respondent identified a release of hexane into the adjacent facility to Respondent cooling water system and released to atmosphere. The cause was due to two of 658 “U” tubes from the LHC Tails Cooler failed…...
EPA RMP Citations @ polyhydric alcohol production process (Flammables & $66K)
Respondent has submitted and registered an RMPlan to the EPA for its stationary source and has developed an RMProgram accidental release prevention program for the stationary source. Respondent operates polyhydric alcohol production process that uses ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, and ethylenediamine in the polyhydric alcohol production process. Respondent has one RMProgram level 3 covered process, polyhydric…...
EPA RMP Citations @ food plant (NH3 & $121K)
Respondent owns and operates a 210,000 square foot fresh fruits and vegetables processing and cold storage facility. The facility includes one RMProgram regulated closed-looped ammonia refrigeration system. The refrigeration system represents an RMProgram level 3 covered process which currently stores or otherwise uses 27,300 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, in amounts exceeding the applicable threshold of…...
2016 Video of the Week #31 (Line Break/Equipment Opening)
This is an excellent overview of line break/equipment opening hazards and precautions. Albemarle – Line Break Procedure from Launch Media on Vimeo…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
EPA RMP General Duty Clause citations @ tote recycler/manufacturer (Chemical Reaction & $37K)
Respondent owns and operates a container molding facility where it manufactures and recycles high density polyethylene containers ranging in size from fifty-five to 330 gallons (“containers”). The larger containers are encased in a steel cage for extra support. As part of its recycling operations, the Facility accepts used containers which routinely contain small amounts of…...