The above picture shows a flammable liquid storage tank level indicator with a sight glass spring loaded valve, kept in the open position with a “home made” clip. Although this alert is from our friends in AU, this is ALSO seen worldwide and should be considered a “Lesson Learned” worldwide!
One of the great things about being a consultant is that I get to see things that I would have never been able to see working for a single company. Traveling the world doing PSM/RMP work has given me the opportunity to see how other businesses and cultures do safety and this has enriched me
On the ASME Form U-1 (Manufacturer’s Data Report for Pressure Vessels), the information regarding Postweld Heat Treatment (PWHT) is typically found in Line 14.
by Wynand Serfontein, Senior Scientist @ Sasol Technology (Pty) Limited In a safety management system, there is a constant battle to find the optimum balance between procedures and common sense. On the one hand, both our educational systems and legal systems support a culture of procedures. The educational system encourages written material to be studied
An ASME B31.3 welding quality assurance (QA) program must cover the full lifecycle of a weldment, from procedure qualification to final testing, to ensure structural integrity. It serves as a mandatory framework for contractors to demonstrate that their processes and personnel consistently meet the minimum safety requirements for process piping. The QA program must include the following:
In ASME B31.3, the number of welds that require visual inspection depends entirely on the Fluid Service Category designated for the piping system. Because visual inspection is the primary quality control method, the requirements are strict. For the vast majority of process piping (Normal Fluid Service), 100% of the completed welds must be visually inspected.
An interesting comparison to OSHA NEP results for the Ammonia refrigeration industry. From July 2009 to June 2011, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) conducted an audit and inspection program at 102 facilities using anhydrous ammonia-based industrial refrigeration systems. Facilities included a range of food processors (meat, dairy, processed foods), cold stores, and ice works.
If you have been around ammonia refrigeration very long, you have most likely heard a horror story or two related to “draining an oil pot.” This task is also very well known by OSHA and EPA inspectors and is often used as a point of review for operating and maintenance procedures during PSM/RMP inspections. So
Ammonia Incidents in OregonFrom 1993 – 2007 ORHSEES recorded a total of 3,187 qualifying chemical incidents in Oregon. Of these qualifying incidents, 240 (7.5%) involved a release of ammonia. 87.5% of the ammonia releases occurred at fixed facilities while 12.5% occurred during the transport of ammonia. A total of 67 of the 240 ammonia incidents required an evacuation order, affecting 3687 people. Evacuations ranged from
During a recent project the SAFTENG team came across an interesting “change” to a covered process that fits the “changes to facilities” perfectly. The covered process was a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) unit on a coal fired boiler. The unit was having problems during cooler months with the ammonia condensing before it reached the SCR unit.
