My hat is off to the ANSI Z244 committee for dipping their toes into Line Break/Equipment Opening (LEO) hazards and how energy isolation plays a key role in completing this very hazardous tasks SAFELY. They are the first group to even touch the LEO topic. And although it is a brief discussion; it is an…...
RIP 🙏 Two young men, 20 & 21, die from hydrogen sulfide gas exposure during a well cleaning job. Three others were hospitalized. They were working at a recently sold home when a chemical reaction created deadly hydrogen sulfide gas in the confined space beneath the home’s porch. The workers were using muriatic acid to…...
This is my favorite brand of meter, the one I have literally used my entire professional career as a safety engineer and emergency responder. I am not naming the brand as I do not want to cause them any issues, but just understand this, ALL brands will have this level of accuracy. Most users of…...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is proposing to amend its Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations by making several proposed changes to the 2024 Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention (SCCAP) rule. The proposed revisions include changes to provisions relating to: These proposed amendments seek to improve chemical process safety by avoiding duplicative…...
On May 20, 2025, at approximately 8:15 a.m., approximately 8,000 pounds of toxic chlorine were released, seriously injuring one employee. The community was ordered to shelter in place, and the facility estimated that the incident resulted in approximately $23 million in property damage. On the day of the incident, the facility planned to replace a…...
On October 8, 2024, at 8:15 p.m., a cylinder containing approximately 150 pounds of LIQUID anhydrous ammonia (NH3) exploded, seriously injuring four (4) employees at a plastics manufacturing facility. On the day of the incident, the facility planned to introduce anhydrous ammonia into equipment as part of a chemical treatment in preparation for turnaround maintenance…...
If you would not issue a PRCS entry permit to enter a space at 19.6% Oxygen, why the hell are we listing this range (19.5% – 23.5%) as acceptable for an unsuspecting entry supervisor? Why would we not just use 20% – 21% for an acceptable O2 concentration for an everyday supervisor who usually gets…...
SAFTENG Comment:A basement is NOT by definition a “confined space”. That does not mean that a basement cannot have a hazardous atmosphere. Argon is 1.38 times heavier than air and with NO ventilation designed to remove this gas from a basement, it will displace the Oxygen leading to this horrific event. So many failures in…...
On March 22, 2021, at approximately 12:30 p.m., an explosion and fire occurred at a Refinery. The explosion and fire seriously injured one contract worker Leading up to the incident, the refinery was shut down for turnaround maintenance. The planned maintenance work included removing a section of carbon steel piping in the Fluidized Catalytic Cracking…...
Respondent owns and operates a pet food ingredient manufacturing facility. Respondent reported three accidental releases to the National Response Center prior to EPA’s inspection. On January 9, 2023, Respondent reported a release of 12 pounds of anhydrous ammonia due to a safety release valve failure. On February 23, 2023, Respondent reported a release of 2…...
With a decrease in federal inspectors—from 846 in February 2024 to 736 in June 2025—OSHA is challenged in reaching the nation’s 11.6 million worksites.This challenge could compound due to staff attrition and other reductions. As we have reported since 2022, a lack of available inspectors can lead to fewer inspections, diminished enforcement in high-risk industries…...
Federal workplace safety officials have cited one of OSHA’s Top 5 VPP STAR businesses for multiple serious violations at its Greensboro facility following a fatal accident that killed a longtime employee last summer. The business has 1,006 VPP Sites, and yet, OSHA finds serious LOTO and PRCS issues after a PRCS fatality. The North Carolina…...
