The GHS and Vapor Pressure
Vapor pressure: Pressure exerted by a saturated vapor above its liquid in a closed container. Three facts are important to remember:
Human Factors Exercise (Boat in Lock Video)
Part 1: Is the act shown in the video an: Error? Mistake? Or Violation? Keep in mind that we all make errors, mistakes, and commit violations. Part 2: Which class of error, mistake, or violation? Tips to help:
Trick Question: When can we see an invisible hazardous gas?
We can see some hazardous gases, even at low concentrations, such as Chlorine (Cl2). But some hazardous gases are “clear/invisible”. So, using Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) as our hazardous gas… What does 300 ppm of Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) look like? Note: 300 ppm is the IDLH for NH3 For example, there’s a release of NH3. You
Case Study: Hiring Unauthorized Personnel Causes Risk of Explosion at Printing Plant (TSSA)
During the summer of 2023, a potential explosion was averted at an industrial facility in Southern Ontario. A new printing press, not approved for use in Canada, was installed and started to signal operational issues during testing. Further complicating the matter, an unauthorized individual tampered with the gas meter set, creating an unsafe environment and
Case Study: Unnoticed Corrosion Causes Ammonia Leak at a Cold Storage Facility (TSSA)
In the spring of 2024, emergency responders responded to an ammonia leak at a cold storage facility in southern Ontario. The incident occurred on the roof, where a corroded shut-off valve on the hot gas line of an ammonia center evaporator failed, resulting in the release of ammonia gas into the surrounding environment. The cold
EPA RMP Citations @ aerosol propelled adhesive facility (LPG/Butane & $100K)
The Respondent’s July 23, 2019, RMP submission outlines a maximum inventory of the regulated flammable substance butane and LPG at the Facility that exceeds the threshold quantity of 10,000 pounds of butane and LPG as outlined in Table 3 at 40 C.F.R. § 68.130. Respondent’s aerosol-propelled adhesive process at the Facility was, at the time
Understanding IDLH
There are more than 380 substances with IDLH limits. View the current list of substances with IDLH. You can also find IDLH values in CAMEO Chemicals or in the online version of the NIOSH Pocket Guide(link is external). IDLH limits were primarily established to aid in making informed decisions about respirator use. Above the IDLH,
Emergency Response and the state of NJ’s Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets
FYI… the state of NJ’s Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets are the bomb and with WISER gone, these move up to my #1 go-to ER document. We need three (3) reliable sources to formulate our Incident Action Plan (IAP) that includes our PPE Hazard Assessment. These Fact Sheets, NIOSH’s Pocket Guide Book, and
Pressure Vessels and SIF
As we have discussed many times, I am a strong advocate of the SIF approach to risk management. Growing up in the PSM arena, we realize that the entire process safety effort is built on the SIF model. However, for those unfamiliar with managing catastrophic risks, SIF can become just another “flavor of the year”
The OSHA HAZWOPER requirement 99% of Industrial facilities fail to meet
There is one requirement in the HAZWOPER standard that has been in place since its promulgation, which almost every industrial facility with its own internal HAZMAT response team fails to meet. I receive a significant amount of pushback when I cover this OSHA minimum requirement, and I am always as shocked by the response as
What is the “Shingle” effect, and WHY is it so critical in PPE usage?
If we pay close attention to PPE pictures, especially at Emergency Responses, we can see that this critical aspect of proper PPE donning is usually not followed, placing responders at increased risk. So, what is the PPE Shingle Effect, and WHY is it REQUIRED?
The three (3) pieces of Chemical Data one must know when performing a risk analysis
You get to pick ONLY three (3) pieces of data about a chemical you have responded to. You know the chemical, so what would the three (3) pieces of data you would want to know be and why? Here are my three and why…