Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP)

Both OSHA and EPA require PSM/RMP facilities, more specifically covered process(s), have a QA program in their Mechanical Integrity (MI) Program… 1910.119(j)(6) Quality assurance. 1910.119(j)(6)(i) In the construction of new plants and equipment, the employer shall assure that equipment as it is fabricated is suitable for the process application for which they will be used. 1910.119(j)(6)(ii) Appropriate checks…...

Full disclosure, I do PSM/RMP audits, but that does not change the facts that I will present in this article. Over the past couple of years, I have seen first-hand companies cancel or fail to schedule their 3-year PSM/RMP audits because their State EPA, Federal EPA or OSHA did a PSM/RMP inspection at their facility…...

One of the means to protect an OUTSIDE atmospheric storage tank is a weak roof-to-shell seam.  As we can see in this video, a diesel tank at a wharf in Apia, Samoa was equipped with such a means of fire venting.  I am assuming this on the basis of the information we can obtain from the…...

Sometimes I come across some items as I do work for clients that are priceless in helping us make our case for safety and this one is a “feather in our [hard] hat”.  Apparently some employers in the state of California decided that using pressure vessels built to some code other than ASME Section VIII…...

On April 9, 1998, an 18,000-gallon propane tank exploded (BLEVE) at the Herrig Brothers farm in Albert City, Iowa. The explosion killed two volunteer firefighters and injured seven other emergency response personnel. Several buildings were also damaged by the blast.  CLICK HERE for the CSB Report…. Membership Required You must be a member to access...

This week we got word that the Olin Corp has announced that they will be reconfiguring their Henderson, NV facility to make bleach.  This is the facility that in 1991 when owned and operated by Pioneer Chlor Alkali Company, Inc. had the largest Chlorine release on record, 70-100 tons of chlorine.  The response to the…...

One of the weakest elements in OSHA’s PSM and EPA’s RMP standards is the Incident Investigation element.  Anyone who has performed a PHA or Audit can tell you that the difference of opinions range from aggressive to the criminally insane!  Personally I have heard some of the lamest excuses for not investigating Loss of Primary…...

The accident occurred on Friday 6/14/2013 at around 6 p.m. in a section of the plant that had been shut for maintenance when a nitrogen vessel ruptured during off-loading. The blast killed one worker and sent seven others to the hospital. OSHA investigated and issued the following 5(a)(1) citation regarding the design of the process…...