Unfortunately there are countless industrial disasters that led up to the USA’s version of Process Safety Management standards from both OSHA and EPA; but in my world of flammable liquids and gases, it was Flixborough that resonated with me. It just seemed that every process safety or flammable liquids/gases training that I attended Flixborough always […]
UPDATED on 6/4/2016 – Police investigating the accident said that the hydrofluoric acid spill might have been caused by human error as two workers unloaded the chemical from a delivery tanker. A closed-circuit security video camera recorded the two workers on top of the tanker without protective gear. They connected an air hose to a valve
In the world of boiler PSV design, the “length” of a vent line is less about a specific length in feet and more about BACKPRESSURE. According to ASME Section I (Power Boilers) and Section IV (Heating Boilers), the moment you add a vent line to a Pressure Safety Valve (PSV), you are introducing flow resistance.
I have highlighted some surprises for those of you in OH that may be reading this! FYI, Anhydrous Ammonia is a Group B2 refrigerant, based on Addenda to Designation and Safety Classifications of Refrigerants. Be sure to click on the Links to the other applicable OH Fire Codes referenced in this section!
When we are reading RAGAGEPs for Chlorine Process Design, we will certainly see references to “Wet Chlorine” and “Dry Chlorine,” and it’s one of the top questions I get when people/businesses are new to the chlorine business. In the world of process safety and metallurgy, the distinction between Dry Chlorine and Wet Chlorine is one
After the fatal phosgene incident in WV on January 23, 2010, the CSB asked OSHA to take sustained measures to minimize the exposure of hazards to workers handling highly toxic gases from cylinders and associated regulators, gages, hoses, and appliances. Ensure that OSHA managers, compliance officers, equivalent state OSHA plan personnel, and regulated parties conform, under
The management system required under Subpart A of 40 CFR Part 68 is essentially a system defined by facility managers for integrating the implementation of the risk management program elements and assigning responsibility for that implementation (58 FR 54196; October 20, 1993). The extent of the management system will depend on the size and complexity of
The International Fire Code has another version of OSHA’s and EPA’s General Duty Clause. It is 5001.3 Performance-based design alternative. The code contains 18 elements that very closely mirror OSHA’s PSM and EPA’s RMP requirements, but the BIG DIFFERENCE is that the code makes no mention of quantities/thresholds! The rule applies to all hazardous materials,
Often times we get so involved with meeting OSHA and EPA regulations that it is easy to loose site of the State Fire and Hazardous Material codes. In some states these codes can be even more stringent that OSHA and EPA process safety requirements! PLEASE keep in mind, each state will have their OWN SET
EPA issued a Process Safety Alert in 2007 in response to several investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) which involved the failure of excess flow valves (EFV). While EFVs are in extensive service and have prevented numerous pipe or hose breaks from becoming much more serious incidents, experience has shown that in some cases the
The information in this report was collected by staff in the North Carolina Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) Program. Ammonia releases in North Carolina have resulted in injuries, hospitalizations, and workplace evacuations. Some examples of ammonia releases in NC include:
The UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the onshore chemical and major hazard industries collaborated in the collection of causation information and lessons learnt from Loss of Containment incidents. This was a voluntary scheme aimed at collecting information on the underlying causes of loss of containment events. The aim being to identify common failure
