At approximately 9:45 p.m. on November 4, 2003, a maintenance employee went to the chlorine house to turn on the chlorination system. The chlorine house measured 3 feet, 10-inches wide by 5 feet, 10-inches long and was approximately 10-feet high. The water lines ran through a hole in the block wall. The hole in the…...
I have upload my REVISED Car Seal Program and the PowerPoint that goes with it to the Document Library – Chemical Process Safety folder…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Car Seal Program and Training Presentation UPDATED 2/2025 Read More »
One of the things I look for in my PSSR walk downs is “short-threading”. I was raised with the old pipe-fitters rule of “three threads showing”; however, ASME now accepts “full engagement” as bolt flush with nut. Some companies will have a QA/QC requirement of 1-thread showing. So I have to accept the ASME definition…...
Example of “Short-Threading” Read More »
I just uploaded my newest version of the SAFTENG Car Seal Program that reflects the code requirements in 2025. A client has learned they need to car seal some valves that are “intervening valves” after a PRD and before a header. The OEM commissioning the process stated they had a Car Seal Program and would…...
When you see it… (Not a Car Sealed Valve!) Read More »
Three People Died Due to the Blast The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released a new safety video on its investigation into the January 24, 2020, fatal propylene release and explosion at the Watson Grinding and Manufacturing Company facility in Houston, Texas. The massive explosion resulted in the death of two workers…...
CSB Releases New Safety Video on the 2020 Fatal Propylene Release and Explosion Read More »
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Company Values (Virtue Signaling – Humor Video) Read More »
The last few weeks I have been sharing passages from Dr. Todd Conklin’s books. And I could not agree more with 99% of what he teaches. This week is one of those 1%’ers… I believe that a GREAT Safety Management System (SMS) will in fact help organizations “learn” from accidents. Starting with a well established…...
Safety Thought of the Week… Not knowing is powerful Read More »
With the recent catastrophic and fatal pressure vessel (PV) failure in KY, I have to speak up and point out a very dangerous and unfortunately common failure we see in our work. Far too often we visit a facility under the guise of doing process safety work and we typically find the PSM covered PVs…...
Managing Pressure Vessels and their Pressure Relief Devices is more than just PSM/RMP Read More »
Fundamentally, employers and employees must be alert to the fact that working with a “closed system” does not always ensure safety. Operations involving the opening of valves or pumps on otherwise closed systems or working on such equipment that is not isolated or locked/tagged out are particular sources of danger. When a normally closed system…...
Chemical Exposures from Industrial Valve and Piping Systems Read More »
At 8:04 a.m. on May 11, 2023, an employee, 58, working for an oil and gas support services company was found dead. On 5/10/23, the night before, the employee had instructed his coworkers from other contractors to go home, and he would finish the job up. This was the last time anyone had spoken to…...
Hazards of Pneumatic Pressure Testing Piping with Nitrogen Read More »
At 10:20 a.m. on August 1, 2024, an employee, 53, was working inside a transformer. The employee entered a permitted confined space filled with nitrogen and asphyxiated due to overexposure to nitrogen. The employee was killed…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
PRCS fatality (N2 asphyxiated) Read More »
At approximately 9:20 a.m. on December 1, 2010, Employee #1, #2 and #3 were working on the barge of an oilrig (Rig Number 1). They were removing a Christmas tree flange, an assembly of valves, spools, and fittings used to control the flow of oil or gas out of the well, with a cutting torch…....
Line Break Gone Bad (Flammable Gas) Read More »
