Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP)

Just by sheer luck (bad) I, unfortunately, came across a perfect example of how IMPROPER torquing can create a VERY SERIOUS HAZARD in a chemical process.  I was helping a client with a process that has a runaway reaction potential.  Our study took us to the reactor so we could examine the pressure relief system,…...

How does your facility manage this?  These days most facilities use written Hot Work Permits, either because of regulatory requirements or they are required by their insurance company.  And most facilities also assign a fire watch for each permit.  But this is where the similarities end and how the fire watch personnel are managed is…...

Recently I was asked if a PSM/RMP program can be managed 100% electronically on a company intranet site or company internal server.  The short and simple answer is NO it may not.  In further discussion, it was asked if this would be permissible if the company kept a back up CD/Disk that operators could use…...

A review of NFPA 51B… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

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Do you include your Fire Extinguisher company under your PSM/RMP Contractor Safety Program?… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

One of EPA’s most often cited issues with a facilities Risk Management Plan (RMP) revolves around “updates to the plan”.  Most, but not all, know that the plan has to be updated every five years; but did you know there were other triggers that require a RMP to be updated more often than every five…...

On June 20, 2009, an ammonia line ruptured during maintenance at a poultry processing plant in Robeson County, N.C., killing one employee and injuring several others. This accident should remind employers of the hazards associated with the use of anhydrous ammonia as a refrigerant at food processing plants. Click Here (.pdf) to see and print…...

Update: Download the Updated PSI Evaluation Tool (v 3.02) CCPS initiated a project in late 2006 to develop a focused set of lagging Process Safety metrics to help industry monitor progress and drive improvement in Process Safety Programs. The project, involving a large number of CCPS member companies and external stakeholders, has recommended a concise set…...

OSHA answered this question in 2006 in the LOI, Requirement for flame-resistant clothing in petrochemical plant covered by PSM. Although, OSHA states in the LOI that they will cite the employer for 1910.132(a), 1910.132(d), 1910.119(f)(1)(iii)(B) and/or 1910.119(j)(2). OSHA makes reference to NFPA 2113, Standard on Selection, Care, Use and Maintenance of Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection…...

As many of you already know, having good operating procedures that are regularly reviewed and updated is a vital part of the management process and helps ensure safety. Recently, an industry group conducted a survey on five major companies. See the Directors Corner for the survey questions and the responses of these surveyed companies…. Membership...