As I have said before, I am a huge fan of Global FM’s Data Sheets, as these FREE data sheets provide EXCELLENT information for businesses who may not have the funds or the ability to use other codes. And today I got a notice that FM revised their data sheet 7-49, Emergency Venting of Vessels and this […]
What happens when a vacuum of 23″ of Hg (11.2965 psi) is pulled on a “damaged” Railcar. This means that there is ~14.7 psi outside the Railcar pushing inward against only 11.29 psi inside the Railcar. The effect is an amazing force with a very dramatic outcome! Video in REAL-TIME…
ASME B31.3 (Process Piping) treats double-walled piping—commonly referred to as jacketed piping—as two (2) distinct pressure systems. Because the failure of the inner pipe (core) or outer pipe (jacket) carries different risks, the code requires specific sequences and methods to ensure the integrity of both.
You may be asking, what the heck is this all about… you mean OSHA is prohibited from inspecting “small businesses who have PSM covered processes” – YES, in some NAICS’s OSHA has been prohibited from doing PSM inspections when the small businesses are within an industry that has lower than national average injury rates. Now I
Today has been very interesting, as I have taken several phone calls from security contacts wanting to learn more about Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) and terrorist attacks, such as suicide car bombs or small missile attacks on pressure vessels holding NH3. I am not aware of any security alerts issued by US authorities as of this
Check valves are a common piece of equipment within chemical processes; however, often times these specialized valves go years without any inspection or verification they are performing as designed. In some processes, these valves play a pivotal role in PREVENTING the initiation of an incident and can even be the sole layer of protection for
OSHA’s PSM and EPA’s RMP standards require the employer to develop the Process Safety Information (PSI) regarding each covered process’s “safety systems”. 1910.119(d)(3)(i) Information pertaining to the equipment in the process shall include:… 1910.119(d)(3)(i)(H) Safety systems (e.g. interlocks, detection or suppression systems). §68.65 Process safety information.… (d) Information pertaining to the equipment in the process. (1)
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
