Fire-resistant garments are provided to the select few who voluntarily risk life and limb and go into harm’s way. They do it to ensure the safety and security of the rest of us. In this group are members of the all-volunteer military and first responders, from firefighters to the riot control units and SWAT team […]
Standard Number: 1910.132; 1910.132(a) December 18, 2012 MEMORANDUM FOR: REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS & REGIONAL SOLICITORS FROM: RICHARD E. FAIRFAX, Deputy Assistant Secretary & JOSEPH M. WOODWARD, Associate Solicitor for Occupational Safety and Health SUBJECT: Guidance on Handling Cases Developed Pursuant to the FRC Enforcement Policy Memorandum This is to provide guidance on application of the Enforcement Policy for Flame-Resistant Clothing
Federal officials have charged a Georgia transportation company in a 2009 ammonia leak that killed a South Carolina woman. According to court documents, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against the transportation company for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. The wrong type of hose was used as 7,000 pounds of anyhydrous ammonia
When using an MSDS to comply with the Process Safety Information requirement 1910.119(d)(1)(ii) Permissible exposure limits, is it ACCURATE to use the 8-hr TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) when the workers work 12-hour shifts? My article last week has stirred a lot of emotions from those who do a lot of “referencing” in their SOPs. So I
Received the most interesting phone call today and there is one more business on the plante that thinks I have completely lost my mind. Their question: “If the manufacturer of a piece of equipment has a recommended maintenance plan, and we do not follow their “recommendation”; how can OSHA issue a citation against a “recommendation”?”
I have written about the confusion within many industries about their “electrical classification” and what the Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices (RAGAGEPs) allow and do NOT allow. In 2012 we even came across facilities that were using codes from an entirely different industry being applied to their facility, which utilized an entirely different
Over the years we have seen a very large movement to skinny down PSM/RMP operating procedures. At first glance this movement makes a lot of sense; but with any great idea comes pitfalls and it is the pitfalls that I would like to discuss in this posting. Recently we came across the end results of
This material has been provided by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection Chemical Accident Prevention Program. This is an EXCELENT SOURCE of reliable information regarding PSM/RMP procedural needs, but it is provided by a STATE AGENCY and may not meet/exceed federal agency expectations. I find it very hard to think that Federal OSHA or EPA would not
During a PSM/RMP audit this week with my “Partner in Safety”, Unwin Company, Mr. Bob Johnson shared this GREAT worksheet and explanations from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection Chemical Accident Prevention Program. The purpose of this extensive data form is to assist facilities with the compilation, organization and evaluation of the information that is required to
If you’re involved in process safety you know about mechanical integrity and what is mandated by OSHA’s PSM and EPA’s RMP in regards to MI. But many businesses are just scratching the surface with their mechanical integrity program(s). This article is meant to help those who are looking to take their MI program(s) to the
In 2011 EPA inspected a national company that distributes ammonia and found several concerns that were eventually addressed in a settlement agreement. One of the business’s facilities is about a tenth of a mile from a residential neighborhood, and even closer to other public businesses. The way the facility was operating, according to EPA, if an ammonia
In order to protect the public from boiler and pressure vessel explosions, guidelines must be in place to ensure proper construction, installation, inspection, operation, maintenance, alterations, and repairs. However, these guidelines do little to protect the public unless they are mandated by law. In order to encourage the development of essential safety laws in jurisdictions that
