Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP)

On Wednesday April 25th 2012, the Infrastructure Security Compliance Division (ISCD) reached a milestone as it completed its 1000th Compliance Assistance Visit (CAV). CAVs support the regulated community by helping chemical facilities to understand and meet the requirements under the Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Standards (CFATS) based on their own unique circumstances…. Membership Required You must...

On July 13, 1973, in Potchefstroom, South Africa there was an anhydrous ammonia accident involving a catastrophic failure of a pressurized ammonia storage tank that instantaneously released 38 tons of anhydrous ammonia into the atmosphere. Eighteen people died and an unknown number were injured. A visible cloud extended about 1,000 feet wide and about 1,400 feet…...

Auto-refrigeration is a phenomenon common to Anhydrous Ammonia. Anhydrous Ammonia exist in both the liquid and gaseous phases at ambient temperatures with pressures ranging from 2 psig up to 2,500 psig. That is, there is a gaseous layer over the liquefied gas within the pressure vessel…. Membership Required You must be a member to access...

The 2011 addenda of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code includes a new ASME Code stamp which replaces all of the current ASME pressure relief device stamps (V, HV, NV, UV, UD, TD). The new ASME stamp is the same for all Code stamped items, and is accompanied by a “designator” which identifies the specific product. The designator consists…...

The above picture shows a flammable liquid storage tank level indicator with a sight glass spring loaded valve, kept in the open position with a “home made” clip.  Although this alert is from our friends in AU, this is ALSO seen worldwide and should be considered a “Lesson Learned” worldwide!… Membership Required You must be a member...

One of the great things about being a consultant is that I get to see things that I would have never been able to see working for a single company.  Traveling the world doing PSM/RMP work has given me the opportunity to see how other businesses and cultures do safety and this has enriched me…...

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An interesting comparison to OSHA NEP results for the Ammonia refrigeration industry.  From July 2009 to June 2011, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) conducted an audit and inspection program at 102 facilities using anhydrous ammonia-based industrial refrigeration systems. Facilities included a range of food processors (meat, dairy, processed foods), cold stores, and ice works…....