Safety Thought of the Week…
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EPA RMP GDC & EPCRA citations @ cheese manufacturing facility (NH3 & $178K)
The respondent was the owner or operator of the cheese production facility that used anhydrous ammonia in its refrigeration processes. Respondent was required to have a material safety data sheet for anhydrous ammonia under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. ยง 651 et seq. , and its associated regulations. Respondent produced,…...
High-hazard Group H occupancies
High-hazard Group H occupancies are characterized by a greater degree of explosion, fire, or health hazard than typical commercial and industrial uses. There is one common feature of Group H occupancies: they are designated as Group H because they contain excessive quantities of hazardous materials. Where the quantities of hazardous material stored or used in…...
Safety Thought of the Week… Trevor Kletz on “Organizational Failures”
The accidents described in this chapter are not due to a fifth type of error. They are due to the failure of senior managers to realize that they could do more to prevent accidents. They are thus mainly due to lack of training, but some may be due to lack of ability and a few…...
Prepping for maintenance can be as hazardous as the maintenance tasks
As we have discussed before, energy isolation in a process is VERY DIFFERENT than energy isolation in a manufacturing plant. And the work we do as part of achieving a Zero Energy State (ZES) is the evacuation of hazardous energy. And man, have I seen some hockey setups to evacuate serious hazardous materials! Here is…...
6,000 pound NH3 release leads to $169K EPCRA/CERCLA citations
The respondent was an owner or operator of the ice manufacturing facility where anhydrous ammonia is used in the manufacturing of ice. Anhydrous ammonia, CAS #7664-41-7, has a reportable quantity of 100 pounds, as indicated in 40 C.F.R. Part 355, Appendix A. On July 27, 2023, at or about 4:34 a.m. CDT, a release of…...
EPA RMP GDC citations @ manufacturing, packaging, and distribution facility (NH3 & $36K w/ a $97K SEP)
Respondent operated a manufacturing, packaging, and distribution facility that is located immediately across the street from a residential neighborhood, less than a half mile from a high school and several businesses, and approximately a mile from US. Routes 5 and 84 and the Connecticut River. At all times relevant to the violations alleged herein, the…...
Excellent video on RP Fit Testing (UK’s HSE)
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Safety Thought of the Week… interaction between the technical and social aspects of the system
A point has been reached in the development of technology where the greatest dangers stem not so much from the breakdown of a major component or from isolated operator errors, as from the insidious accumulation of delayed-action human failures occurring primarily within the organizational and managerial sectors. These residual problems do not belong exclusively to…...
Inert Gases pose serious hazards when not managed properly
On October 17, 2007, a wiring employee came to a press brake to get more pieces from Employee #1, a press operator. Employee #1 turned and put down a piece, collapsed to the floor, and experienced convulsions. The wiring employee panicked and asked the laser operator for help. The laser operator cleared the area. As…...
Hazards of evacuating NH3 from the process
On February 7, 2017, an employee, 50, was making preparations to replace the relief valve of a 1,000-gallon ammonia (NH3) tank. The incident investigation reported that the tank was empty of liquid NH3. However, it contained approximately 80 psi of vapor pressure. The employee set up a 30-gallon drum that contained water and affixed it…...
When the “Safety Day” does not go as hoped! (N2 in a “flammable safety can”)
At 8:30 a.m. on May 24, 2018, Employee #1, 45, set up a booth representing the control laboratory for a safety day event at the plant, which involved approximately 1,000 employees, visitors, and vendors. Employee #1 wanted a fog effect at the booth to attract visitors. Employee #1 made plans to have coworker #1 get…...