A few months ago we discussed the first step in establishing our Dry Chlorine piping “service class” and in that article, I stressed how critically important that step was, as the rest of our design will be based on the chosen “service class”. In this article, we will see that I was not joking! As […]
No it is not a spongy football for kids! NURF is the acronym for “Normally Unoccupied and Remote Facility”. It is a term used in OSHA’s PSM standard and NURFs are EXEMPTED from complying with OSHA’s PSM standard; however, EPA’s RMP rule does NOT have a NURF exemption so be careful – EPA manages this
The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors recorded the number of accidents involving pressure vessels at an increase of 24% over the course of a year between 1999 to 2000. These statistics include power boilers, steam heating boilers, water heating boilers, and unfired pressure vessels. However, the increased number of accidents was not reflected
PLEASE NOTE that this citation is SIGNIFICANT in that OSHA took issue with how Operating Procedures were controlled/revised/managed! OSHA found operators using three (3) different revisions for the same task that caused the release. Document control records had odd dates as well. A “document control” system is NOT a PSM (or RMP) requirement, BUT we
This is another example of a change to our process that may not require a wrench to complete, but it is my opinion, as well as now the National Board’s, that changing the service of a pressure vessel is indeed a change that should undergo an MOC. The National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) Part 2, SUPPLEMENT
I have written about this topic several times, but in reading the newest edition (2015) of NATIONAL BOARD INSPECTION CODE I came across some actual language that must be considered when establishing our Safe Upper Design Limits for our pressure vessels. I feel like I must state the obivious once again – a relief valve is
California is looking to REVISE their CalARP regulation with an additional “Program Level” specific to petroleum refineries. This is coming from Interagency Working Group on Refinery Safety and they are proposing to form a new Article 6.5 Program 4. Program 4 eligibility requirements are…
These proposed CalARP emergency response program amendments are intended to apply ONLY to petroleum refineries, and incorporate recommendations from the Report of the Interagency Working Group on Refinery Safety.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (EPA/OSHA) issued this Chemical Safety Alert as part of an ongoing federal effort to improve chemical risk management, advance safety and protect human health and the environment.1 Recent catastrophic chemical facility incidents in the United States prompted the President to issue Executive
With OSHA’s recent revision of their definition of “retail”, there are literally thousands of ammonia facilities that have entered into the world of PSM and have gone from RMP 2 to RMP 3. So this posting is just to offer some insight and/or an alternative to API 510 inspection practices and to help those facilities
More than 50,000 preliminary assessments were reviewed by DHS from facilities with chemicals of interest 3,146 facilities are currently covered by CFATS More than 3,000 facilities voluntarily removed, reduced, or modified their holdings of chemicals of interest 2,111 visits to assist facilities with compliance 3,242 Security Plans authorized 2,658 Authorization Inspections conducted
Enclosed are the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG’s) three fiscal year 2015 management challenges and one internal control weakness for consideration as part of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act review. The Reports Consolidation Act of 2000 requires our office to report what we consider the most serious
