So today my e-mail box overflowed with questions regarding the use of medical devices such as hearing aids, noise canceling hearing protection, and medicine pumps in HAZLOCs. And yes, there is a solution for these VERY LIMITED opportunities to use a device that is NOT certified for use in these HAZLOCs by a 3rd party […]
This week during my ASSE PSM Training course I had conversations at lunch and after the course around the use of the “fitness bands” that seem to be so popular in “wellness programs” that so many companies are doing. These wellness plans have a lot of financial incentives to encourage employees to participate. Both of
This report summarizes the results of a Campbell Institute research project to aggregate the best practices of world-class organizations in EHS around the management of contractor and supplier safety. The area of contractor safety management is especially pertinent in an increasingly global and complex world that involves work in multiple countries, non-routine work and the use of international and
Still one of the top questions and issues we come across today… ASME Data Sheets for Pressure Vessels. As I have written here many times, OSHA states U1 forms are NOT required for complying with the PSI requirements but don’t think for a second that a U1 form is not necessary for a fully functioning
The 316 stainless steel pressure vessel involved had been moved into the Commonwealth of Kentucky approximately ten years prior to the accident. The vessel had originally been used as an atmospheric vessel in the manufacture of ammonium bisulfite, a raw material for caramel color, and later converted to be used as a pressurized unit. The tanks were operated
A few months ago I wrote about this new refrigerant as having the catastrophic risk of a BLEVE event. Now I wish to offer some guidance on how a business utilizing this refrigerant can reduce the likelihood of this type of event. First, there are NO engineering standards that guide a manufacturer of an ASME
1/29/16 UPDATE – CSB Investigation Video and Investigation Report
On Jan. 19, 2016, the Hartford Area Office cited a chemical manufacturer for 15 serious violations of workplace safety standards. Inspectors found that a manufacturer of swimming pool chemicals and acetone preparations used in nail polish were exposed employees to chemical, fire, and exit access hazards. The company’s manufacturing processes use large amounts of the
At the site of an inactive gas well, two workers were flowing the high-pressure gas from the well to determine production potential. They were inside an operator’s shack when a pipe ruptured, and the escaping flammable gas exploded in a fireball. Although the two workers were wearing fire-retardant clothing, they suffered burns. The smaller piping
We continue to see the “check the box” engineering when it comes to “ventilation” requirements for processes that fall under PSM/RMP. I have written about the design basis and the many flaws we come across regarding the actual design, but this one is becoming more and more prevalent. I am thinking “space” is becoming less
This week I participated in an on-line discussion regarding a new “telltale indicator” that is being used in refrigeration processes. A really neat device that will indicate when an RV has lifted; however, I questioned its design and whether or not it could be considered an “obstruction” in the RV vent line. This device has
Catastrophic results can occur when unauthorized repairs are performed on pressure vessels. An improper weld on an anhydrous ammonia nurse tank was a factor in a nurse tank failure that occurred on April 15, 2003, near Calamus, IA. resulting in one fatality and one serious injury. This is a stark reminder of the serious consequences that can occur as
