Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP)

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…...

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…...

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,…...

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…...

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…...

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…...

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...

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 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…...

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…...