The simple and short answer is YES. In fact, OSHA covers “dispersal of inventory” in their 1994 Compliance Directive: 29 CFR 1910.119, Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals — Compliance Guidelines and Enforcement Procedures. In this directive OSHA asks and answers the following questions regarding “dispersal of inventory”: Can an employer who keeps threshold…...
While performing a pressure test on a length of plastic pipe, a pipe blanking cap struck a worker after the crimped connection between the ferrule and pipe failed. The injured worker suffered severe leg and hand injuries and was taken to hospital by ambulance. The incident occurred on the night of 26 November 2015 at…...
Worker seriously injured when pipe assembly failed pressure test (NSW) Read More »
On December 19, 2007, a runaway chemical reaction during the production of a gasoline additive destroyed T2 Laboratories in Jacksonville, Florida, killing four people and injuring 32 others. The blast, equivalent to about 1400 pounds of TNT, damaged buildings and injured office workers hundreds of feet away…. Membership Required You must be a member to...
Runaway: Explosion at T2 Laboratories Read More »
Today we saw a SIGNIFICANT change in OSHA’s attempt to revise their definition of “retail” as it applies to the Process Safety Management Standard. This all went down through channels we would have never imagined… The 2016 Omnibus (spending) bill policy provisions. Yes, that is correct, OSHA got slapped by politicians in a spending bill and oh…...
OSHA’s PSM Retail Exemption, Anhydrous Ammonia, and 2016 Omnibus Bill Read More »
From time to time I like to look at RMP data for trends and interesting accidents that we can learn from. As in the past, Anhydrous Ammonia seems to always find its way into my research. Some will say it is because it is by far the most widely used RMP chemical and others will…...
Anhydrous Ammonia leads RMP 5-year Accident Histories with Injuries Read More »
Many hot work operations are performed by outside contractors, these include cutting, welding, joint soldering, paint removal, reroofing, etc. The tendency is to relax rigid procedures for contractors assuming they know their jobs. However, this practice has produced a discouraging loss history. Hot work by itself is a hazardous process. When outside contractors are involved,…...
FM Global UPDATES their Hot Work Fire Statistics involving contractors (2013) Read More »
Last week the CSB announce a public meeting regarding the refinery accident in CA back in February. In their announcement the CSB informed us that following the staff presentation, the Board will hear an update on the new process safety management reforms in California from a panel of experts. I have written about these PROPOSED changes…...
This is my last article in my series regarding excess flow valves. I haveattempted to explain how these devices can aid in controlling a significant leak, as well as how these valves get abused in their design and maintenance. As I have stated before, these valves should NOT be considered a “safeguard” in our PHA’s until we have…...
Excess Flow Valves and the International Fire Code (IFC) Read More »
There is a LOT of chatter about OSHA’s revised “retail facility” LOI and what it means to some industries and the timing the courts could play in the outcome. The magazine AGProfessional has published a VERY NICE update on the legal proceedings and what lies ahead for the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI)…...
Legal UPDATE on OSHA’s interpretation of a “retail facility” Read More »
EPA has issued a memorandum to all Regional Administrators to establish EPA policy on the effect of the OSHA’s reinterpretation of the “retail exemption” under the Process Safety Management (PSM) standard. The RMP regulation contains a provision at section 68.190(b)(7) requiring facilities to revise and update risk management plans within six (6) months of a…...
This is a classic EHS spoof that any EHS auditor can appreciate. It comes from one of the finest process safety professionals that walk among us and oh how he is fun to work with. Joe can make a bad day one of your best days, just by being “Joe”. An awesome audit leader and…...
A Few Good Auditors (as adapted from the movie A Few Good Men by Joe Chandler) Read More »
The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors has released its Third Quarter Report of Violation Findings for 2015. The data captures problem areas and trends related to boiler and pressure vessel operation, installation, maintenance, and repair; and also identifies problems before unsafe conditions occur. This report serves as an important source of documentation…...
Report of Violation Findings for Third Quarter 2015 (NBBI) Read More »
