UPDATED 9/11/12 with CCTV video footage showing the steam release, followed by the flash fire, followed by te dark smoke. … Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
CCTV Video & photos from Chevron’s Richmond, CA refinery fire Read More »
A TX refinery has been cited for five (5) PSM violations. OSHA opened an inspection at the facility upon receiving a complaint that employees had been exposed to a leak of hydrofluoric acid at a flange in the alkylation unit while performing maintenance work. Proposed penalties total $66,500. Here is a breakdown…… Membership Required You...
OSHA issues PSM citations to a TX Refinery Read More »
OSHA has cited a fireworks manufacturer $116,900 for 25 serious and six other-than-serious safety violations after three workers suffered burns caused by an explosion at the company’s facility in March. The employees were transported to local hospitals, and two were treated for serious burns and released. The third employee, who suffered third-degree burns, was hospitalized…...
At 7:17 a.m., on August 22, 2003, an Amerigas Corporation (Amerigas) cargo tank semitrailer arrived at the AK Steel Corporation (AK Steel) facility in Middletown, Ohio. The driver pulled the vehicle up to the fill location and helped an AK Steel employee hook up to the fittings for a plant storage tank. According to the…...
When someone tells you Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) is not an issue with NH3… Read More »
UPDATED on 9/2/12… Is there an OSHA PSM or EPA RMP requirement that liquid ammonia piping/equipment that can trap the liquid be equipped with a proper type and sized releif device or can a “qualified refrigeration technician” take the place of a relief device? This question has been debated within the refrigeration industry PSM/RMP circles for…...
Hydrostatic Relief Devices vs. Qualified Operator, which is required? Read More »
Those who deal with OSHA’s PSM and EPA’s RMP regulations on a daily basis know all about the 3-year audit schedule we are required to maintain; but what many professionals responsible for PSM/RMP compliance may not know, is there are as many BAD audits done each year as there are GOOD audits. Sadly, we get…...
Auditing Process Safety Management Systems Read More »
OSHA has cited a natural gas producer for one willful and seven serious PSM violations following an explosion and fire that severely burned a worker. OSHA began its investigation Feb. 29 at the company’s facility which specializes in the production of liquid natural gas through a cryogenic process. The incident occurred while employees were restarting…...
The Flixborough disaster was an explosion at a chemical plant close to the village of Flixborough (near Scunthorpe), Humberside orignally Lindsey, Lincolnshire (now North Lincolnshire), England, on 1 June 1974. It killed 28 people and seriously injured 36. At 16:53 on Saturday 1 June 1974, the temporary bypass pipe (containing cyclohexane at 150°C (302°F) and…...
Flixborough Explosion (1974) Read More »
UPDATED 8/25/12 – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is aware of hazardous materials (HM) incidents involving Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) occurring during the transfer of these materials from cargo tanks to storage tanks, and vice-versa. One recent event was a release of NH3 that occurred in Swansea, South Carolina, during…...
(8/25/12 UPDATE from DOT) IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING (NH3) AND (LPG) HOSES Read More »
Incidents by Transportation Phase Category of DOT Incidents Transportation Phase Incidents Hospitalized Non-Hospitalized Fatalities Damages IN TRANSIT 1,751 0 21 5 $21,785,584 IN TRANSIT STORAGE 245 0 0 0 $509,083 LOADING 1,359 3 13 0 $2,094,525 UNLOADING 3,374 5 35 0 $13,485,293…...
Risks associated with Loading and Unloading HAZMAT Read More »
B31 Code for pressure piping, developed by American Society of Mechanical Engineers – ASME, covers Power Piping, Fuel Gas Piping, Process Piping, Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids, Refrigeration Piping and Heat Transfer Components and Building Services Piping. ASME B31 was earlier known as ANSI B31. B31.1 – 2001 – Power Piping…...
ANSI/ASME B31 – Standards of Pressure Piping Read More »
In the world of process safety, pressure vessel safety plays a major role! Yet many facilities do not have engineers available to them and thus some will struggle with which code(s) apply and what must be done to maintain their pressure vessel(s) in tip top safety shape. This is my cheat sheet that I have…...
The 12 sections of the Boiler Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) Read More »
