The management system required under Subpart A of 40 CFR Part 68 is essentially a system defined by facility managers for integrating the implementation of the risk management program elements and assigning responsibility for that implementation (58 FR 54196; October 20, 1993). The extent of the management system will depend on the size and complexity of…...
What is a RMP management system? (EPA) Read More »
The International Fire Code has another version of OSHA’s and EPA’s General Duty Clause. It is 5001.3 Performance-based design alternative. The code contains 18 elements that very closely mirror OSHA’s PSM and EPA’s RMP requirements, but the BIG DIFFERENCE is that the code makes no mention of quantities/thresholds! The rule applies to all hazardous materials,…...
IFC’s Performance-Based Design Alternative (PBDA) Read More »
Often times we get so involved with meeting OSHA and EPA regulations that it is easy to loose site of the State Fire and Hazardous Material codes. In some states these codes can be even more stringent that OSHA and EPA process safety requirements! PLEASE keep in mind, each state will have their OWN SET…...
Process Safety and Ohio State Fire & HAZMAT Codes Read More »
EPA issued a Process Safety Alert in 2007 in response to several investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) which involved the failure of excess flow valves (EFV). While EFVs are in extensive service and have prevented numerous pipe or hose breaks from becoming much more serious incidents, experience has shown that in some cases the…...
Applications and Limitations of Excess Flow Valves Read More »
The information in this report was collected by staff in the North Carolina Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) Program. Ammonia releases in North Carolina have resulted in injuries, hospitalizations, and workplace evacuations. Some examples of ammonia releases in NC include:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a...
Ammonia Releases in North Carolina (1993-1997 Data) Read More »
The UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the onshore chemical and major hazard industries collaborated in the collection of causation information and lessons learnt from Loss of Containment incidents. This was a voluntary scheme aimed at collecting information on the underlying causes of loss of containment events. The aim being to identify common failure…...
Loss of Containment (LOC) Data Read More »
One of my many “CHEAT SHEETS” I use… LIQUEFIED GAS CONVERSION CHART Product Name Cubic Feet / Pound Pounds / Gallon Cubic Feet / Gallon Acetylene UN/NA: 1001 CAS: 514-86-2 14.70 4.90 72.03 Air UN/NA: 1002 CAS: n/a 13.30 7.29 96.96 Ammonia Anhydrous UN/NA: 1005 CAS: 7664-41-7 20.78 5.147 106.95 Argon UN/NA: 1006 CAS: 7440-37-1…...
Liquefied Gas Conversion Chart Read More »
I have referenced these writers before when discussing process safety and once again they communicated the message better than I could regarding how we should analyze “process alarms” when we claim them to be a layer of protection. We should only accept alarms that have been established using a RAGAGEP in their design (audible, visual,…...
When we claim alarms as “safe guards” in our PHA Read More »
There are new details regarding the March fire at a Memphis, TN refinery that killed one contract worker and injured two others. TOSHA has completed its investigation and the refinery was hit with a proposed $63,000 in fines for 16, serious, alleged violations. TOSHA listed the potential cause as “failure to isolate and control ignition…...
TOSHA cites Refinery $63,000 for Fatal Flash Fire (PSM, LOTO, PPE) Read More »
I have referenced this newsletter many time and have linked to it many times, but never officially posted it as a resource for process safety folks. It is FREE and published by EPA Region 10 every other month. Like this posting on relief system design basis, there is literally tons of material that can be…...
EPA Region 10 RMP Newsletter- great resource! Read More »
AMMONIA FATALITY (a worker at a winery has died after being exposed to ammonia – one of the workers accidentally opened a wrong valve and released ammonia into a confined area – the man was one of six workers exposed – the other workers tried to rescue the man but were unable to get to…...
Ammonia Fatality @ Winery Read More »
This is an excellent presentation showing what is believed to have happened leading up to and after the Amuay Refinery Vapor Cloud Explosion on 8/25/12. Excellent modeling, but based on assumption, showing how a vapor cloud progresses. To date, the loss of life now exceeds 50 with many more severly burned. The off-site devistation was…...
Amuay UCVE Event Aug 25, 2012 Read More »
