The Technical Safety Authority of Saskatchewan (“TSASK”) has finalized its investigation into the December 24, 2013, explosion at the Co-op Refinery Complex (“CRC”) in Regina. The investigation has concluded that a bypass line of Polymerization Unit 27 froze following a maintenance procedure. The stress of the freezing process ruptured the bypass pipe. Once the air…...
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Date: Thursday, December 11, 2014, 10:00 AM Place: 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building 12/12/14 – UPDATE on the hearing:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to strengthen security at the Nation’s high-risk chemical facilities through the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. Chemical Security Program Statistics as of November 1, 2014…… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
In the world of process safety, we live by our chosen and adopted Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practice(s) (RAGAGEP) and when our HHC/EHS is Chlorine (Cl2) we turn to the Chlorine Institute and their “Pamphlets” for our needs. And one of their most-used pamphlets is Pamphlet 6 – Piping Systems for Dry Chlorine. …...
A while back, I was participating in a PHA of a refrigeration process, and somehow, the discussion led to one that scared me a bit… collecting a liquid ammonia sample to test for water content. The actual art of ammonia refrigeration not being my area of expertise, I had always reserved Bulletin No. 108. Guidelines…...
One of the most common debates in the refrigeration industry is “do my condensers need relief protection”? Everyone from OSHA to IIAR has chimed in with their positions. But recently the SAFTENG team was doing some work in the great state of New Jersey and came across New Jersey’s State Code for refrigeration plants, which…...
This week, I began working on a process design review project for a client looking to build a facility in the state of WI. This facility will use Anhydrous Ammonia within the facility and SAFTENG was hired to ensure compliance with the design and installation/construction of their Anhydrous Ammonia process. As part of the project,…...
As I have discussed many times with many clients, the practice of “bench testing” relief valves (RV) is a common practice in many industries; but in some industries, the practice has been considered to be a waste of time and money. At least that was the case until now! It appears that one major trade…...
Here is a nice presentation the California Interagency Refinery Task Force did in June 2015: CAL-OSHA has issued an NPRM for a REVISED PSM Standard. In addition to proposing changes to existing PSM language, the draft proposal introduces new requirements in the following areas: damage mechanism reviews hierarchy of hazard controls analysis human factors management of organizational…...
Yes, as many of you have figured out I am a big fan of using the Management of Change process to actually manage changes that may officially be outside the PSM/RMP requirements. But how OSHA changing their injury/illness reporting requirements impact my Process Safety Management System? Here’s how…… Membership Required You must be a member...
Not meant to be a trick question, but the matter of workers who MUST wear medically prescribed devices and work in Class I, II, and/or III Hazardous Locations tends to be a constant question for facilities that have HAZLOCs. Low voltage equipment is always a battle in HAZLOC! I swear the engineering schools in this…...
On March 20th, 1989, the pressure in the cryo tank climbed abruptly between 11:00 a.m. and 11:15 and the tank burst at its base. Under the effect of the wave escaping from the gaping breach, the reservoir broke free from its stand, pushed in the opposite direction. It destroyed the reinforced concrete protecting wall and…...
