Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP)

Although both EPA and OSHA use similar definitions to define who is an “incidental contractor” and those contractors who need to be evaluated to work in, on, or adjacent to a “covered process”, there is still much confusion on the intent of the “contractor element” and which type of contractors should be included and the…...

Some interesting data on Anhydrous Ammonia releases in NY state from 1993-1998…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

I have been asked to explain the difference between actions an operator may take during a process leak and the actions that the same operator may take as an “emergency responder” to the leak…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Still today (2011) we come across facilities working so hard to be the best they can be in PSM/RMP and in 99% of their process they are exceeding expectations.  They are doing EVERYTHING WELL and running a VERY TIGHT ship…except for the loading and unloading of their Highly Hazardous Chemical (HHC). … Membership Required You must...

This notice is to inform you of an increase in the number of hazardous materials (HM) incidents involvingAnhydrous Ammonia (NH3) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

OSHA has clearly established that hotwork can not take place in the presence of combustible dusts. 1910.252(a)(2)(vi) Prohibited areas. Cutting or welding shall not be permitted in the following situations:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

We continue to see facility’s struggling with the basics of hot work safety. Most of these businesses are self insured and therefore do not have the extra set of eyes from their insurance carrier from time to time. But all do have catastrophic insurance and I am amazed that these carriers do not expect more…....

Today I spent the day helping a company, insurance investigator and fire marshal investigate a Hot Work (HW) fire at a facility. The facility swore up and down that they follow their hotwork procedures to the letter and that there is no way that hotwork could cause the fire. When it came my time to…...

That is PSM lingo for…when you are utilizing Risk Based Inspection (RBI) protocols and you wish to extend the inspection or PM frequencies on a piece of covered equipment, this is without a doubt a change that REQUIRES an MOC…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member?...

Following the Buncefield incident the importance of preventing loss of containment from bulk storage tanks has come to the fore. A significant factor in ensuring contained fluids are not accidentally released is the continuing mechanical integrity of the tank structure. http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr760.htm… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a...

OK, PSM requires us to evaluate our “contractors” who will be working on, in or adjacent to a covered process. OSHA’s Permit Required Confined Space Standard also comes into play during a PSM audit (see .119(f)(4)). Under the PRCS std. OSHA requires us to “evaluate” our rescue services (.146(k)(1)(i)-(ii)) using something similar to Appendix F…...

We always get the answer…”We do not have any temporary operations,” so that does not apply to us. A good auditor will educate the site personnel by taking them out to the field and finding a bypass around a control device. Then, we will ask for the “procedure” that is used when the bypass is…...