Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP)

Many chemical processes that are covered under OSHA’s PSM and EPA RMP rules utilize one of the most popular forms of passive mitigation ever known…Diking.  However, on the other hand, many of the facilities have not included their dikes in their Process Safety Information (PSI) or their Mechanical Integrity Programs (MIP)…. Membership Required You must...

I had an interesting dissertation given to me on how to calculate “frequency” when analyzing a PHA scenario during a recent PHA. Although it sounded logical, it was completely off base and thus would have shown the facility at very low risk for all their scenarios. This is something we see from time to time…...

Since the great recession of 2008 -2010 we have seen an increase in the used equipment market.  This is due to so many businesses going under and auctioning off their equipment and the remaining businesses needing to find ways to save $…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready...

Fundamental safety management failings were the root cause of Britain’s most costly industrial disaster, a new publication reveals. The report into the explosion and five-day fire at the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot in December 2005 tells for the first time the full story of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Environment Agency’s (EA) investigation…....

Members of a key congressional panel have called for a long-term extension of the U.S. Homeland Security Department effort that sets regulations for facilities that manufacture, use, store or distribute substances that could be used to produce chemical warfare materials. While lawmakers lauded the program, they expressed frustration with aspects of the effort that have…...

Cites Need for Emergency Drills, Following Pressure Vessel Codes… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Yes, there is a safety program called the car-seal program. In most chemical processing plants, a car-seal program is a CRITICAL program in their PSM/RMP program; however, this program has uses in almost any type of facility with relief valves, cooling water systems, eyewash/safety showers, etc. This program is designed as an administrative control technique…...

I have tried to understand the basis for the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration’s (IIAR) set points they recommend in one of their Technical Bulletins and one of the ANSI/IIAR codes.  Some background data to help understand this analysis:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log...

I asked some ChemEs and MEs the following questions about relief valve testing. We come across some RV programs and practices that we feel fall short of following any RAGAGEPs and thought it would be helpful to hear from engineers who manage these programs on a daily basis. Here is my scenario, and their responses…...

So far we do NOT have all the facts of what happened at the Nuclear Power Plant in Japan when the earthquake and tsunami hit, but we have gotten some insight into what is supposedly occurring in the aftermath of these concurrent disasters, which very well may lead to even a larger disaster with much…...

by Jim Worman, Senior Staff Engineer with The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors If you have contractors or on-site engineers doing pressure vessel inspections, this is one method they may choose. This article is VERY WELL written and is a MUST READ for those not formally trained in this method of inspection…....

EPA is announcing the release of “Guidance for Conducting Risk Management Program Inspections under Clean Air Act Section 112(r)” (EPA 550-K-11-001, January 2011).  This document updates and supersedes the “Guidance for Auditing Risk Management Plans/Programs under Clean Air Act Section 112(r)” of August 1999.  The new document includes updated EPA policy on involvement of facility…...