2018 Photo of the Week #49 (Come along to safety hell with me)
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2018 Video of the Week #49 (Hot Work Tarps need to be FM listed!)
This is how quickly a Hot Work fire can get out of out control when the spark tarps are NOT rated for such protection! This event went from bad to worse with the aerial lift work overhead and the improper use of the aerial lift. … Membership Required You must be a member to access...
CHLORINE INSTITUTE publications incorporated by reference into the HMR
In petition P-1619, the Chlorine Institute requested that updates to publications currently listed in § 171.7(l)—specifically § 171.7(l)(1), (2), (5), and (12)—and referenced in various sections of the HMR be incorporated by reference. PHMSA conducted a review of these publications and found them suitable to propose incorporation into the HMR. In the NPRM, PHMSA proposed…...
Does your LOTO program define/quantify “hazardous energy”?
One of my favorite courses to teach is my LOTO Overview course, where I try and convey the OSHA minimum requirements for a functioning Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) program, and each time I do this course I always tell my “water fountain story” from my days at Great Lakes Chemical. My plant manager at GLCC was a…...
A look at EPA’s RMP Emergency Response “Exercises” requirement
This week EPA updated the RMP Rule, which includes all of the amendments that had been delayed. One such amendment was to §68.96 Emergency response exercises where EPA now requires facilities with Program 2 and 3 covered process to conduct some “official” actions in regards to “table-top” and “field exercises”. In this article I will break down…...
The RMP Amendments are NOW EFFECTIVE as of TODAY
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today (12/4/2018) that the amendments to the Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act put forward in a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 13, 2017 are now in effect. The rule amending 40 CFR part 68, published at 82 FR 4594 (January 13, 2017)…...
Anhydrous Ammonia is a flammable gas (OSHA), but shipped as a toxic gas
I don’t think I have done a process safety course or a HAZMAT course where I do not have a lengthy sidebar discussion to explain why NH3 is a flammable gas under OSHA definitions, but not under DOT definitions. Yes, NH3 has a LEL of 15-16% and a UEL of 25-28% so it has a flammable range,…...
2018 Video of the Week #48 (Industrial Dominos… a forklift and warehouse rack collapse)
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2018 Photo of the week #48 (This is not why it’s called a “dead man” valve)
There is a reason why this “spring loaded-CLOSED” safety valve is called a “dead-man” valve, but trying to kill yourself with anhydrous ammonia is not it! The things that get shared in my Process Safety courses… someone thought this was a good idea and someone else thought it was even a better idea to snap…...
Official Fire Investigation Report on NY Cosmetic Plant Fatal Fire
On 11/20/207 a cosmetic plant in NY suffered a fatal fire. The explosion and subsequent fire was caused by static electricity and Flammable liquids. I need to point out that the fatality was from smoke inhalation and was an employee who was not involved in the handling of the flammable liquids in the initial event…....
The DANGERS of working with flammable refrigerants w/o proper training
In June 2014 a qualified diesel mechanic, 39, died from burns and blunt force trauma when a refrigeration compressor blew up during his work. He and another gentleman, a boilermaker by trade who worked as a welder offered to move the refrigeration compressor from the cellar in order to assist. While they were in the cellar…...
2018 Photo of the Week #47 (PFAS Anchor)
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