On April 15, 2014, Employee #1, a maintenance technician employed by Solarworld Industries America Inc., and Coworker #1, a tool operator in the plant’s fabrication area, was working at the employer’s solar cell manufacturing facility. Coworker #1 had submitted a work order to repair a leak of liquid hydrofluoric acid (HF). HF is used in […]
A Reminder to Minimize Process Shutdown Related Releases and to Report Releases In a Timely Manner Introduction Unlike some other natural disasters, the onset of a hurricane is predictable and, as a result, lends itself to early preparations for minimizing its effect on a facility. Before hurricane force winds and associated storm surge flooding can damage industrial processes and cause uncontrolled releases of hazardous chemicals, owners/operatorstypically
Car Seal Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) For OPERATIONAL CONTROL of valves For MAINTENANCE & SERVICING CONTROL of energy isolation devices
This picture represents the fun side of working with clients who want to be world-class and meet the “intent” of a code or standard, not worrying if it just meets OSHA. This is a refrigeration client who is really trying to make this start-up an example for other facilities within the organization to emulate. During a Pre-PSSR
Emergency Escape Breathing Apparatus (EEBA) have been around my entire career and I have used the mouth-bit style and the supplied air bag-over-the-head style. Actually, I have never had to use one, but I had them at my facilities when I was a Safety Manager in the chemical and semiconductor industries. So I have learned
The quick and easy answer is YES and before the changing of Presidential administrations the wheels were in motion, even after several court set-backs. But some would like to accuse me of being a “consultant” and spreading fear to drum up business. I used to laugh off these comments and accusations, but today I received
OSH ACT of 1970 SECTION (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck-by hazards: The employer did not establish, communicate, and implement safe work
This video is from 2013, but I thought they did such an excellent job explaining 1234yf and how we went from 134a to this new refrigerant I should share it for context. I have been very hard on the suppliers of this new Low GWP refrigerant over the years and this video sums up the
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 indicated that it was in a CLOSED position. Employee #1 opened the cap to
At approximately 2:30 p.m. on March 2, 2011, six workers were employed as milling or planing machine operators at a corn and flour milling facility in Lincoln, NE. A chlorine leak was detected in the chlorine room, so the milling superintendent and a miller/operator entered the chlorine storage room and closed a manual valve on
Bollards… they are more than sticks in the ground! In fact, there is an actual code design basis for bollards (i.e. posts). There are six (6) CRITICAL METRICS for bollards, of which five (5) we can see and one (when done properly) is invisible to those of us who inhabit the surface of the earth. So what can we see
On October 4, 2005, Employee #1 was working as a refrigeration mechanic. An ammonia system valve in freezer Number 7 was being turned, when the bonnet came loose with the wheel, releasing approximately 100 to 200 lbs of ammonia. Employee #1 was 35 feet up without fall protection, and he had to slide down racking
