I learned about the 90 day rule the hard way… from an OSHA CSHO during a VPP Inspection. I had personally signed off on a very large “temporary project” that installed some field monitors for an environmental permitting project. The MOC made it very clear that these devices would be in place for one (1) […]
UPDATE on 5/10/12… Explosion damages New Smyrna Beach ice plant (fire officials blame ammonia leak in off-hours blast – a steel door landed about a 100 feet from the opening following a very early morning explosion at the ice plant – while the cause is still being investigated, New Smyrna Beach Fire Marshal said a preliminary
I have received a lot of private comments on some of my recent posts regarding hazardous locations and ventilation. As usual most are very positive and appreciative and a few were not so charming. But one of my friends and clients has informed me that I should post my response to his questions as it worked
Many facilities will use mechanical ventilation to aid in reducing worker exposures, as well as controlling flammable atmospheres from becoming explosive. There are some general rules of ventilation that should be applied in all cases and this article is an attempt to briefly mention the key points. Mechanical ventilation systems are ONLY as good as
An accidental release of 12 tons of anhydrous ammonia at a storage/dispensing facility resulted in the hospitalization of five people and the evacuation of 550 residents. The unexpected release of anhydrous ammonia is believed to be due to a design error that may have caused a 3/4″ (1.91 cm) schedule 80 vent stack on the
Ever heard anyone say, “PSM and RMP are identical except for the off-site consequence requirements”? There are a lot of similarities between the two chemical safety regulations, but the two are very much different in more ways than just the “off-site consequence requirements.” Most similarities are between RMP “Program 3 Prevention Program” and OSHA’s PSM
Toxic Chemicals Regulated under RMP that are also Regulated under PSM [Alphabetical Order – 78 Substances] Chemical Name CAS No. RMP Threshold Quantity (lbs.) PSM Threshold Quantity (lbs.) Acrolein [2-Propenal] 107-02-8 5,000 150 Acrylonitrile [2-Propenenitrile] 107-13-1 20,000 Not Regulated Acrylyl chloride [2-Propenoyl chloride] 814-68-6 5,000 250 Allyl alcohol [2-Propen-1-ol] 107-18-6 15,000 Not Regulated Allylamine [2-Propen-1-amine]
The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services (DFS) has enacted the Hazardous Materials Processing regulation (527 CMR 33). The code was developed to help prevent the occurrence of incidents like the explosion in Leominster in 2005, the fire and explosion in Danvers in 2006 (see the CSB investigation), and the fire and explosion in Middleton in
Most ammonia refrigeration personnel know their refrigerant is flammable, but most would also tell us that they do not have any “Hazardous Locations” (e.g. Class 1, Div 1 or 2 locations) associated with their refrigeration process. Most of these workers will explain their engine room/compressor room ventilation system is designed, installed, and maintained to ensure
Is the act of loading/unloading a PSM/RMP chemical exempt from OSHA/EPA enforcement? Absolutely not! Somewhere this little fib began and it has spread like wildfire. If you have a release of your HHC/EHS during unloading or loading, rest assured OSHA and/or EPA can investigate and inspection, and here’s why…
