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Understand Active and Latent Failures

In almost all of the accident investigations I have been asked to participate in, the local management team was very quick to blame “active failures”.  This almost always involves some blame being placed on the human; after all, they were directly involved, and had they “not made the mistakes,” the accident would not have occurred. 

Comparing the Domino and the ILCI causation models

Accident causation models were originally developed in order to assist people who had to investigate occupational accidents so that such accidents could be investigated effectively.  Knowing how accidents are caused is also useful in a proactive sense in order to identify what types of failures or errors generally cause accidents. So action can be taken

Cheating in business is cheating in safety

Without TRUST, safety doesn’t stand a chance! Companies require employees to attend annual “ethics training.” Behind the scenes, the company is lying to all its stakeholders. First, it was VW and now FCA (formerly Chrysler). And companies can’t seem to understand why their safety cultural surveys are always pointing to a lack of TRUST as

The BULLETIN – Summer 2022

I have been referring SAFTENG members to subscribe to the “Bulletin,” a FREE publication from the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors.   This publication is an EXCELLENT resource for those safety professionals dealing with pressure vessel safety, especially those in the process safety arena.  Their latest edition covers two (2) very significant changes

Is a “baler” a PRCS?

To be blunt on a serious matter, MOST balers I have come across are indeed a PRCS.  Some can easily be reconfigured in order to reclassify using some simple LOTO practices to eliminate the hazard AND to open them up (LOCKED OPEN) which would put the tasks as a “maintenance task” and not an “entry

OSHA issues PSM citations @ chicken processing plant (NH3 & $110K)

A federal workplace safety investigation into a Jan. 19, 2022, ammonia leak that hospitalized two workers and led to the evacuation of about 50 workers at a Canton poultry processing plant found their employer might have prevented the incident by ensuring required safety standards were followed. OSHA found the uncontrolled temperature and pressure conditions on

Human Failure Analysis (6-minute Video)

This video explains Dr. Reason’s Human Failure model that most industries, especially aviation and chemical processing, have been using my entire career.  It does a very nice job explaining the types of human failures and their differences.  Members can read my 2012 article “Causes of Human Failure” to get a more detailed explanation and to

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