This week OSHA issued citations to a steel mill involving Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and the one citation that caught my eye revolved around a “group lockbox” situation. The citation reads “On and before 6/18/2012, the employer did not ensure that authorized employees used a personal lockout device to lock the group lockout box. Each authorized employee had…...
Many THANKS to my newest and RENEWING Corporate Partners in Safety… since 2007 since 2012 since 2012 since 2012 2012 Fatality Tracker Electrical 67 (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment 52 (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining 85 (2011 = 248) (2010 =…...
In processes handling flammable liquids, “flange jumpers” (also known as “bonding jumpers”) are critical safety components designed to maintain electrical continuity across piping joints. Since piping systems are often coated, gasketed, or subject to corrosion, a standard flanged connection may not provide a sufficiently low-resistance path to ground…. Membership Required You must be a member...
What GAO FoundOSHA’s process for accrediting Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL) is lengthy due to the scope of staff members’ responsibilities and unclear application procedures for accreditation. Among the 13 recently approved applications, OSHA took between 1 and 5 years to make accreditation decisions. All of these applications took much longer to approve than OSHA’s…...
James Hodgson once said: “I’ve never had any ambitions; only enthusiasms.” As the nation’s 12th Secretary of Labor, he leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in Occupational Safety and Health. Under his leadership as Secretary of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Nixon in 1972. “Safety…...
OSHA will extend its temporary enforcement measures in residential construction for three (3) more months. The temporary enforcement measures, now extended through March 15, 2013, include: priority free on-site compliance assistance, penalty reductions, extended abatement dates, measures to ensure consistency and increased outreach… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready...
OSHA has cited the company with three repeat and four serious violations following a June inspection as part of the agency’s Process Safety Management Covered Chemical Facilities national emphasis program (NEP). Proposed penalties total $99,000. The repeat citations issued for the process safety management standard violations include failing to inspect and test process equipment consistent…...
Most everyone knows that electrical panels must be kept clear at all times and last year I wrote an article explaining the “why’s” of this clearance requirement. Well now, NFPA is driving home the importance of these clearance requirements with a REVISION to the NEC, Sections 110.26(A) and 110.32. These PROPOSED revisions would more clearly define the…...
My hi level interlock just tripped on my vessel – can I count this trip as the scheduled quarterly/annual PM test? This question is maybe in the top 10 questions we get from PSM/RMP clients and friends and without a doubt one of the top 5 MI questions of all time. There is no argument…...
12/13/12 – I uploaded the full video (1:45) to my YOUTUBE account rather than the members’ area. This full version includes a 2nd view from a different camera and shows the full impact and size of the explosion and the tank fires resulting from the blast. WARNING! This video will be UPSETTING to many, especially the…...
A retired safety professional I am a friend with on Facebook shared this video with me and it made me think (as most safety pro’s will)… would this approach work in stopping unsafe acts? I think it will, but what do you think? How can we go about utilizing this approach, I call “self reflection”…....
OSHA’s “official” definition is… Fit factor: A quantitative estimate of the fit of a particular respirator to a specific individual and typically estimates the ratio of the concentration of a substance in ambient air to its concentration inside the respirator when worn…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready...
