For the worst-case and alternative release scenarios of an underground storage tank, should I consider any impact on groundwater, drinking water, or soil?
I am working on the five-year accident history portion of the hazard assessment under the RMP. Section 68.42(a) tells me to include “all accidental releases from covered processes that resulted in deaths, injuries, or significant property damage on site, or known offsite deaths, injuries, evacuations, sheltering in place, property damage, or environmental damage.” Is there
Should the owner or operator include accidental releases from processes containing listed substances below the threshold quantity in the five-year accident history required under the hazard assessment provisions of 40 CFR Part 68, Subpart B, and in the incident investigation requirements under 40 CFR Part 68, Subparts C and D? No.
In 2025, I have already challenged three times regarding the proper pressure testing of piping systems. I am unsure where we got off track with this rather simple requirement. First, let’s look at how ASME B31.3 defines “design pressure.”
In December 2006, a journeyman pipefitter (P1) was struck in the chest by a pipe cap that he was removing from a pressurized pipe. Some leaks in an 8-inch waterline needed repair. To help find the leak locations, valves were closed off in the lines, creating sectionalized portions of the air-charged waterline. The waterline was
Gas cylinders holding 1.5 ft3 of gas are often filled to ~2,100 psig. At such high pressure, damaged or mishandled cylinders can fracture violently and release enormous amounts of energy, comparable to…
Most companies will go to some degree of lengths in selecting “qualified” contractors to include things such as job examples, a list of qualifications, require subscription to the ISN network, etc. Even then, though, sometimes bad apples slip through the cracks if the company needing a “qualified” contractor doesn’t develop a scope or set of
A 25,000-gallon tank used to store nitrogen or carbon dioxide at 250 psig needed maintenance that required the removal of a four-foot diameter, 500 lb manhole cover. The tank was evacuated to 0 psig using the manually operated relief valve. Once the workers no longer heard air flowing through the valve, they released the stick
Flammable liquids shall be drawn from or transferred into vessels, containers, or portable tanks within a building: Transferring by means of air pressure on the container or portable tanks shall be prohibited. So what is approved self-closing valve?
How dare OSHA even mention “torque” as part of a PSM QA program…
This was published 30+ years ago, but it makes so much sense I thought it was fitting to share far and wide again. Each employer must address what actions employees are to take when there is an unwanted release of highly hazardous chemicals. Emergency preparedness or the employer’s tertiary (third) lines of defense are those
