Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP)

Line Break Gone Bad (Caustic & $121K)

At 2:30 p.m. on August 28, 2019, employees were removing a flange blank on caustic liquid pipeline that was supposed to be evacuated but wasn’t. The employees were sprayed with caustic liquid and suffered chemical burns to their face and eyes. Two of the employees required hospitalization for treatment and three others were injured but…...

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CSB Releases Safety Video on the 2021 Fatal Explosion and Fire at the Yenkin-Majestic Facility (Video)

NOTE the focus on PRESSURE TESTING after a repair/alteration! Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released a new safety video on its investigation into the massive April 8, 2021, explosion and fire that fatally injured one worker at the Yenkin-Majestic Paint Corporation facility in Columbus, Ohio. The CSB’s new safety video,…...

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Line Break Gone Bad (128 psi gas)

A contractor was injured and evacuated after a gas release incident on an offshore facility in the Gulf of America. The incident occurred while a contract employee was performing maintenance on an E-body control valve on a six-inch gas line. BSEE’s investigation found that residual pressure estimated at 128 psi inside the six-inch gas line…...

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Line Break Gone Bad (180F water)

At 1:40 p.m. on May 7, 2024, Employee #1, 42, a Production Engineer, was performing daily assigned tasks when the Maintenance Coordinator requested that the employee replace a gasket on a wash tank camlock. While disconnecting a high-pressure hose from the bulk wash tank, the hose ejected water at 185F. The hot water burned 98%…...

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Line Break (inside PRCS) Gone Bad (Cl2 + Facial Hair w/ SCBA)

At 10 p.m. on 3/19/18, an employee, 34, and coworker were performing preventative maintenance on a chlorine gas system used in a water filtration process. The employee and coworker were removing, and reinstalling, a flange with a black Teflon rubber gasket. They were working in a 48-foot long, 24-foot wide, and 6-foot tall crawl space…...

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Line Break GONE BAD (ClO2 @ WWTP)

At 11:05 a.m. on September 17, 2020, an employee, 34, was working for a water treatment support services company. He began to take a bolt off the motor of a distribution pump on a chlorine dioxide generation system (Unit #2)…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member?...

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Pneumatic Pressure Testing hazard put into measurable perspective

We have discussed the pros and cons of pressure testing/leak testing piping. Code requires the test to be Hydrostatic Test; but if there is a legitmate issue with doing a hydrostatic test, then we can use the pneumatic test method. But we MUST realize the catastrophic/fatal hazard of pneumatic testing. For example,… Membership Required You...

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What is a Corrosion Allowance?

Corrosion allowance is the extra thickness of metal added to a component to account for material loss from corrosion over its service life, ensuring it can withstand pressure and structural loads until the end of its designed life. It is calculated based on the predicted corrosion rate, operating conditions, and the equipment’s anticipated life, using…...

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ASME has a Risk Based Inspection (RBI) RAGAGEP for Pressure Vessels

ASME PCC-3 guides the preparation and implementation of a risk-based inspection plan. Flaws identified during inspection plan implementation are then evaluated, when appropriate, using the procedures provided in API 579-1/ASME FFS-1, Fitness-for-Service. If it is determined that repairs are required, guidance on repair procedures is provided in ASME PCC-2, Repair of Pressure Equipment and Piping…....

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Another example from ASME that Hydrostatic Testing is the REQUIREMENT with three (3) exceptions

This debate seems never to die, and I keep adding more examples to make my point crystal clear… When pressure- and leak-testing piping, we are to use the Hydrostatic Method rather than the Pneumatic Method. ASME provides three (3) specific situations in which we can use Pneumatic Testing instead of Hydrostatic Testing. And these exceptions…...

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Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) fatality

A plant worker died following an exposure to hydrofluoric acid at a chemical plant in St. Gabriel. Two workers with burns were taken from the plant to a hospital where one of them died during surgery. company statement: (scrubbed by me)… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a...

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