Fundamentally, employers and employees must be alert to the fact that working with a “closed system” does not always ensure safety. Operations involving the opening of valves or pumps on otherwise closed systems or working on such equipment that is not isolated or locked/tagged out are particular sources of danger. When a normally closed system…...
Chemical Exposures from Industrial Valve and Piping Systems Read More »
At 8:04 a.m. on May 11, 2023, an employee, 58, working for an oil and gas support services company was found dead. On 5/10/23, the night before, the employee had instructed his coworkers from other contractors to go home, and he would finish the job up. This was the last time anyone had spoken to…...
Hazards of Pneumatic Pressure Testing Piping with Nitrogen Read More »
At approximately 9:20 a.m. on December 1, 2010, Employee #1, #2 and #3 were working on the barge of an oilrig (Rig Number 1). They were removing a Christmas tree flange, an assembly of valves, spools, and fittings used to control the flow of oil or gas out of the well, with a cutting torch…....
Line Break Gone Bad (Flammable Gas) Read More »
When we think the task is to improve safety for an entry, we may lose sight of the risks associated with opening process equipment, specifically flanges in the event. On July 23, 2009, Employee #1 and a coworker, both contract employees specializing in preparation of refinery equipment for entry, were installing blinds in piping preparatory…...
Line Break Gone Bad (Installing blinds to isolate a PRCS) Read More »
At 9:00 a.m. on October 6, 2019, an employee was attempting to open a flange. Steam released, burning the employee’s legs and lower body. The employee was hospitalized. 29 CFR 1910.269(d)(2)(iv)(D): The procedure did not clearly and specifically outline specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout…...
Steam belongs in our Line Break Program Read More »
I see many contractors still attempting to argue that Pressure Testing and Leak Testing are the same tests. This is incorrect, as I have often discussed in my ramblings on this website. This post breaks down the requirements of the most common “leak test,” called the “bubble test.” ASME B31.3 refers us to ASME BPVC,…...
Leak Testing per ASME Section V, Article 10 – Leak Testing Read More »
I see this often, a contractor wants to save some $ so they think they can make up their own “bubble-test” solutions. However, not only is this a very bad idea from a QA perspective, it is actually NOT TO CODE, as ASME Section V, MANDATORY APPENDIX I BUBBLE TEST — DIRECT PRESSURE TECHNIQUE, I-1032…...
Dawn dish soap may be great for dirty dishes and birds, but NOT for our “bubble test” Read More »
B31.3 imposes the following requirements, which are only a few of the elements of a leak testing plan:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Preparing for a piping leak test (B31.3) Read More »
EPA developed the following key safety measures for the inspection of ammonia refrigeration systems and reviewed them with the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration. These are measures that EPA has determined should be in place, regardless of an ammonia refrigeration system’s age or size. This is not intended to be a complete list of important…...
AMMONIA REFRIGERATION LIST OF KEY SAFETY MEASURES (Updated 1/25) Read More »
At 11:50 a.m. on October 21, 2021, an employee, 51, was assisting his coworkers in troubleshooting the fresh hydrogen fluoride (HF) system to the vaporizer. The employee was looking at an actuator that was across from a whisping flange when the flange failed, and hydrogen fluoride was sprayed on him. The employee screamed, and his…...
HF flange fails and results in fatality Read More »
A hydrocarbon leak caused the fire at a California refinery on February 1, 2025. The leak occurred while two workers were opening equipment for maintenance…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Line/Equipment Opening Gone Bad (Hydrocarbon) Read More »
The Kentucky agency that oversees boiler safety claims the plant operated a vessel that exploded without a proper inspection permit. The Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction found that the cooker that exploded was installed without a required permit that would have triggered a state inspection. https://www.wdrb.com/wdrb-investigates/criminal-charges-could-apply-to-inspection-failure-before-fatal-louisville-plant-explosion-official-says/article_704fb426-e566-11ef-a8a2-87af2efe4771.html… Membership Required You must be a member...
