Just an FYI, the RTK.net database is back up with a NEW look and a couple new features. Instead of having to sort the data using the table functions, they have sorted some of the data for us. The site is now run/supported by the Houston Chronicle and can be found at its original address: www.rtk.net […]
A chemical plant where chlorine is manufactured suffered a Vertical Pressure Vessel BLEVE, at least from video footage it appears to be a BLEVE. It involved a vertical tank, as can been seen in this video, as well as a flammable Liquified Pressurized Gas, as evident when the vessel lands. Hopefully, we will learn more in the
The 2015 International Mechanical Code (IMC), Chapter 3 – General Regulations lays out the baseline requirements for all piping systems, including hydronic, refrigerant, condensate, fuel oil. The Chapter, and more specifically Sections 301 and 305, covers how the pipe manufacturer must identify the pipe (e.g. this is the label we use in our QA efforts to
So in the last month, I have heard four politicians lay claim that EPA’s amended Risk Management Plan rule will actually make “us all” much less safe because of the “public access” part of the amendments. So let’s see what all the fuss is about and what is scheduled to start on March 21st. I
Question: At my facility, if the worst-case release scenarios for regulated toxic substances and the worst-case scenario for regulated flammable substances involve the same process, must I analyze both?
Here are some “official” accident facts from OSHA regarding fatal accidents involving Anhydrous Ammonia (all but 1 of the accidents involves Anhydrous NH3). These incidents can be found in OSHA’s Accident Database, but all the accident info is provided below. I have scrubbed company names from this posting, as this is meant to be a
#1 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
If you’ve ever driven on an industrial plant site you most likely have noticed the speed limits on these sites is rather low, say 10 mph. However, some sites we have visited we have seen speed limits up in the 20 mph range. Now if there is no critical infrastructure in the area, we just
Robyn Brooks DEP/CPSEI/JRL Director –
Nice headline huh? Don’t order the cake and party horns just yet, as the delay is a whopping seven (7) days and NO that is not a type-o! In accordance with the Presidential directive as expressed in the memorandum of January 20, 2017, from the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, entitled “Regulatory
This is the second CSB investigation since 2008 involving a catastrophic failure of a heat exchanger (e.g. pressure vessel) that resulted in a fatality and in BOTH accidents, the heat exchanger had been ISOLATED from its relief protection. CLICK HERE for the 2008 Heat Exchanger Accident Report which involved maintenance work on the vessel which
