A liquid ammonia NH3 tank failed catastrophically at the Azotas fertilizer plant in Lithuania in 1989. During maintenance on the boil-off system, operators accidentally created a backflow of liquid warm NH3 to the tank. Potentially after a “role-over”, NH3 evaporated quickly, creating pressure that could not berelieved by the PSV. The tank was lifted, releasing […]
The chemical reaction event at the Friesland Campina site in Borculo early last month (July 2025) was caused by an error in the unloading of hydrochloric acid. The explosion released toxic smoke, chlorine, and nitrogen dioxide. A truck driver reported to the wrong unloading point at the dairy company in Gelderland on Friday afternoon, July
Almost everyone involved in emergency response is aware of the “buddy system” (e.g., 2 in-2 out rule); however, many merely treat this as a “check box” approach as compared to having real rescue capabilities for the entry team. I always ask my students if they believe they could lift and carry a grown adult in
RIP 🙏 Another H2S PRCS event claimed three (3) souls This was also a SINGLE ENTRANT with two (2) “would-be rescuers”
At 4:00 p.m. on May 10, 2021, an employee working for a chemical supplier was transferring chlorine-containing product from a storage tank into a tanker truck. A valve intended to direct the displaced contaminated air to be scrubbed of chlorine was accidentally left CLOSED. The chlorine-containing air was then not scrubbed and was allowed to
This event is a perfect example of why all piping openings are hazardous. At approximately 7:00 p.m. on November 15, 2006, Employee #1 was a process operator at the Chlorine Liquefaction Unit, Block A-19. He was preparing to bleed off chlorine on a process line to clear the line for maintenance work. The valve handle
NOTE: these are from the fatal 2014 NH3 Truck Unloading accident, where the “bleed tank” (which was a plastic IBC) catastrophically failed because a liquid NH3 valve was left open. I have no idea why this 5(a)(1) was not issued as a RAGAGEP citation using ANSI K61/CGA 2.1, which is where the facility siting requirements
OSHA has cited a commercial laundry company for alleged workplace safety hazards after an employee injury. OSHA opened an investigation following a referral from the local Police Department. OSHA inspectors determined that on Jan. 18, 2025, a worker suffered serious injuries while performing maintenance on an industrial dryer. The agency issued three willful and nine
Respondent is the owner and/or operator of a resin manufacturing plant. Respondent has registered an RMPlan with the EPA for its Facility and has developed an RMProgram accidental release prevention program for the Facility. At all times relevant to the violations, Respondent had on-site for use 1,886,000 pounds of formaldehyde (solution) and 52,000 pounds of
Respondent owns and operates an ethanol manufacturing facility. A mixture of hydrocarbon liquids butane, isopentane, and pentane is a “regulated substance” pursuant to 40 C.F.R. § 68.3. Pursuant to 40 C.F.R. § 68.115(b)(2)(i), the entire weight of the mixture shall be treated as the regulated substance when the concentration of each of the regulated substances
A 38-year-old man got a serious burn after breaking inside a transformer post, and after the electrocution, he was out of hand. “He had a bag with various instruments, including electro-insulating, and was electrocuted when he grabbed a piece of the voltage distribution facility (6kV), thus creating a short circuit. The man’s health is serious
Most of us who were adults in the 2000s can recall some silly claims made by “Infomercials.” You know… “The Juicer,” the “no-stick pan,” the “Snuggie,” the knives that slice a beer can and tomatoes, the “Shamwow” towel, and the list goes on and on. Oh man, could they make the product seem as if
