This is a very common question when auditing “older plants”, say plants built prior to 1960 (not a specific date with any meaning). For example, during an audit it is discovered that a vessel was built to a RAGAGEP that no one had even heard of or maybe there is NO documentation as to what […]
Two water and sewage treatment plant operators, one a 49-year-old and the other a 21-year-old, died when they entered a permit-required-confined space and could not exit safely. Three employees and one supervisor were assigned to replace a bracket on a pump inside an underground pump station. The pump station measured nine feet in diameter by
A 46-year-old shipping and receiving clerk died from burns he received in an accident involving the ignition of diesel fuel. The victim’s duties included checking the level of fuel in the fuel tanks on refrigerated trailers that would be used the next day to transport processed product and refill the tanks if needed. On the
A 51-year-old sanitation worker at a frozen-food packaging facility died after he collapsed while cleaning one of the conveyor lines. He was assigned to clean the North Pea Line. He opened the access doors on both sides of the cleaning pan blower housing in preparation for the cleaning. The equipment was not shut down nor
A 61-year-old powered-industrial truck operator died after his forklift ruptured a pipe containing a solvent mixture and the vapors ignited. The victim was operating his forklift in an area between a stacker and a printing press in order to pick up a waste pallet and transport it to the recycling area. Some part of the
A 49-year-old contract worker died when he entered a chemical storage tank to clean and inspect the tank. The victim was assigned to conduct scheduled inspections and maintenance at a chemical tank farm. Before arriving on-site, the victim received e-mails from the chemical company manager outlining the projects that he was to complete. On his
A 57-year-old supervisor was killed while trying to determine why hydraulic oil was leaking from a cotton press machine. The press consists of a hydraulic pusher, tramper and bailer. The pusher and tramper sit on an elevated platform accessed by stairs; the bailers and operator console are located on the lower level. The cotton is
Several times year we upset a client who has hired us to do a “wall-to-wall” compliance audit with their PSM/RMP programs. These audits are our most intense audits in which we leave no rock unturned. One of the items we audit in this level of auditing is the RMP submittal and all of the supporting
On a daily basis we respond to a variety of emergencies, most of which have become fairly routine. Of course, reaching that level of competence takes a lot of training, exercises and actual events. We have to constantly guard against complacency to ensure safe and effective operations. However, the extraordinary events — such as tornados, earthquakes,
Many THANKS to my NEWEST and RENEWING Corporate Partners in Safety… since 2010 since 2005 since 1/2013 since 2011 2013 Fatality Tracker Electrical 4 (2012 = 68) (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift 12 (2012 = 52) (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining* 20 (2012 =
Over the last several years the SAFTENG team has been seeing some interesting concepts when it comes to Lockout/Tagout applications and methods. I want to air these out and get some dialogue started so that everyone can understand the errors of these myths…
Not Walking the Talk Actions really do speak louder than words when it comes to safety. All the slogans, posters and tool box talks in the world won’t make a difference if we act in a different way to what we say. By always being a model of safe work and rule compliance, we can
