How do companies follow the emergency response element requirements? To comply with the regulations, a facility needs to develop an emergency program or procedures. These are often contained in one of two types of RMP emergency plans: one for responding facilities and one for non-responding facilities.
This fact sheet summarizes the exercise requirements of the Emergency Response portion of a facility’s Program. It provides guidance for how a facility can comply with existing regulations and what emergency responders can expect from a facility.
Respondent owns and operates a processed cheese manufacturing facility. On or about December 16-18, 2024, representatives of the EPA conducted an inspection of Respondent’s Facility to determine compliance with 40 C.F.R. Part 68 (the “Subject Compliance Inspection”). Information gathered during the EPA’s Inspection revealed that the Respondent had greater than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia
OSHA has proposed more than $3.5 million in fines against three (3) companies after federal inspectors determined they failed to protect workers during post-emergency response cleanup after a chemical spill at an industrial facility in Channelview. OSHA initiated three (3) inspections following a Dec. 27, 2025, sulfuric acid spill that resulted in multiple employee injuries.
Both OSHA and NFPA state that if the pipe does NOT terminate within the space, the pipe does NOT have to be evacuated to consider the contents of the pipe a “potential” to generate a HAZ ATM. In a recent OSHA LOI, OSHA used several thresholds that the employer should/must use in its evaluation of
On August 28, 1992, a cryogenic tank ruptured in Hokkaido, Japan, and is a textbook case study in the catastrophic consequences of completely isolating a cryogenic vessel. The explosion occurred in the middle of the night at a food processing factory. The blast destroyed the upper half of the facility, damaged 25 surrounding buildings, and
The purpose of this Safety Alert is to highlight the risks associated with compromised pressure relief circuits on Cryogenic Tank Containers. Cryogenic Tank Containers are commonly used for transportation and/or storage of cryogenic liquids, including, but not limited to, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Argon. A large explosion occurred at a cryogenic gas transport depot in Tamworth,
The transfer of hazardous materials from a cargo-tank motor vehicle to fixed-site storage poses a critical vulnerability in chemical handling. While high-speed highway collisions capture more attention, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) estimates that roughly 25% to 50% of serious HAZMAT transportation incidents actually occur during loading and unloading operations. These accidents
At all times relevant to this CA/FO, Respondent operated a facility (the “Facility”) that utilizes anhydrous ammonia for cooling to pack, process, and distribute its food products. On July 11, 2024, EPA performed an inspection of the Facility to evaluate compliance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) Section 103, the Emergency
At all times relevant to this CA/FO, Respondent operated a facility (the “Facility”) that utilizes anhydrous ammonia to manufacture and produce citrus products, to develop frozen fruit concentrate, juice, oils, and pulps from oranges, lemons, and grapefruits. On October 24, 2023, EPA performed an inspection of the Facility to evaluate compliance with the Comprehensive Environmental
When we introduce a pipe welding machine (such as an orbital welder) into the fabrication process, the focus of the certification fundamentally shifts. Under industry codes such as ASME Section IX, the individual operating the equipment is no longer classified as a “Welder”; they are designated as a “Welding Operator.” Because the machine handles the
I am working with a client who is making every effort to comply with the Maximum Allowable Quantity (MAQ) limits for a flammable liquid process area. This process is a PSM-covered process, so I offered up how to work beyond the MAQ of 480 gallons for a fire control area. This compliance option 5001.3 was
