Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP)

How far would you go with the “co-Location” coverage to determine PSM/RMP coverage?

This summer we saw a 300,000-gallon water tank fail which pushed a generator into a covered process which led to a release of the HHC/EHS. The questions I wish to pose are: Should the water tank have fallen under the PSM/RMP program due to its proximity to the covered process? Should the proximity of the…...

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Some interesting changes coming to CalARP

The 2014 proposed CalARP regulations have been submitted to the Office of Administrative Law. Some of the proposed changes/revisions to the rule are quite helpful in many aspects and some will be significant hardships. Here are some of the more significant ones I noticed:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View...

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What to Expect from a CFATS Authorization Inspection (DHS)

A CFATS Authorization Inspection (AI) is conducted at covered facilities to verify and validate that the content listed in the facility’s authorized Site Security Plan (SSP) or Alternative Security Program (ASP) is accurate and complete and that existing and planned equipment, processes, and procedures are appropriate and sufficient to meet the established Risk-Based Performance Standards…...

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DHS issues ANPRM for CFATS

Section 550 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007 authorized the Department to regulate the security of chemical facilities that, in the discretion of the Secretary, present high levels of security risk. Under the Section 550 authority, on April 9, 2007, DHS issued the CFATS interim final rule, codified at 6 CFR…...

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Process Safety and calibrated direct-reading instrument

On the most basic level, can a PSM/RMP program function and comply with all regulatory requirements and NOT have a calibrated direct-reading instrument? This is not meant to be a trick question, but rather looking to “ground me” in my expectations.  Having grown up in the PSM/RMP era in petrochem for 20 years, having a…...

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10 years of NH3 and CL2 release data (2004-2014)

Last week I shared an article from allgov.com that provided some data on Ammonia releases.  The article was not well received by some folks and others appreciated the info, which is par for the course when you post this kind of material.  But some have gone off the deep-end and called the article “spin” and…...

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OSHRC decision on PSM Contractor Training and Work Permits

The host facility, an anhydrous ammonia storage facility,  contracted with a company, who in turn, contracted with Respondent (sub-contractor) to perform services on pipelines within the facility. Respondent provides sixteen different services or “lines”, as it refers to them. Each of these lines is comprised of crew members that have been trained and tested in…...

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Purposely Setting a Valve Higher than Nameplate Stamping: Acceptable or Not? (NBBI)

For those of you involved process safety and your process has “pressure vessels” and “relief valves” the National Board’s magazine “BULLETIN” is a really nice addition to our educational materials.  For instance, this quarter the magazine has an article clearing up a practice that has been questioned for years…  Purposely Setting a Valve Higher than…...

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CA Ice Rink forced to shutdown by local FD because of failure to comply with CalARP

This is an interesting case!  From all evidence I have seen, this ice rink was ordered by the local Fire Department to comply with CalARP regulations back in 1999-2000 time frame.  This ice rink was stated as having only 2,056 pounds at the time the business was ordered to shut down (CalARP TQ is 500#…...

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EPA’s Risk Management Program (RMP) Request for Information (RFI)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in response to Executive Order 13650, requests comment on potential revisions to its Risk Management Program regulations and related programs. In this Request for Information (RFI), the Agency asks for information and data on specific regulatory elements and process safety management approaches, the public and environmental health and safety risks…...

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