This is a nice video of workers demonstrating a “day in the life of an ammonia refrigeration technician”. They spend their 17 minutes searching for an NH3 leak and isolating the system feeding the leak. There are quite a few learning opportunities, but their actions are fairly common in this industry. We have a ways…...
Learning opportunities… NH3 leak investigation Read More »
The 2021 NBIC Draft Edition is currently under review for final acceptance by the NBIC Committee. The list of major changes found below are subject to final approval by the NBIC Committee. This final approval vote will take place after the full Public Review process has been completed. The 2021 edition of the NBIC will be…...
Changes to the 2021 National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) Read More »
The purpose of this Enforcement Alert is to highlight the importance of accident prevention efforts during startup periods and other times of non-routine operations. Chemical accidents can occur at any time, but there are times when facilities are more prone to accidents. The startup is a particularly vulnerable time. The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) noted…...
EPA issues an Enforcement Alert on Process Start-Ups Read More »
Three (3) Elk Grove Village Fire Department investigators along with one from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) established that a faulty 1/4″ drain valve on a vessel level controller system caused the liquid ammonia leak at the food processing plant in Elk Grove Village, IL. The leak led to an explosion…...
Under 2019’s ESHB 1817, owners of petroleum refining or petrochemical manufacturing must ensure their contractors and subcontractors use a skilled and trained workforce to perform all on-site construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair, or maintenance work. The new law is under Chapter 49.80 RCW. A “skilled and trained workforce” means a workforce where all the workers…...
The following policy updates apply to anhydrous ammonia storage tanks (tanks) in the state of Kansas as of 2/13/2021. The state has issued new retirement dates for the “railcars” that have been modified and used as fixed storage tanks for decades. This policy is intended to apply to the Fertilizer Industry within the state. It…...
Having spent my entire safety career in chemicals, I have always been amazed when communities rezone and permit housing developments such as apartments/condos with high density populations within spitting distance of chemical/processing facilities and then the city officials are furious when there is an event that causes disruption in these housing developments. This story is…...
FAILURES of true “facility siting” – our “zoning” process is broken and dangerous! Read More »
One of the most hazardous tasks that take place within a chemical process is the NON-Routine Opening of the process. And sadly, there are no RAGAGEPs or OSHA standards that establish minimum safeguards for such hazardous activities. Which I guess in some ways, is better as it has allowed the industry to establish some really…...
Preparing a process for “opening” Read More »
If you’re at a facility where the PSM-covered process involves ammonia refrigeration, OSHA has a few specific questions that would like to ask! These questions are specific to ammonia refrigeration facilities and will be used to evaluate a facility’s readiness to join the world-class ranks of VPP STAR workplaces. How would you fare with these…...
OSHA updates their VPP Application with NH3 Refrigeration questions Read More »
How well do you know your RMP chemicals? I mean really know them. One of the top questions we have received in the past several years is asking about the RMP chemicals’ toxic endpoints and why EPA uses mg/L instead of ppm. PPM is a volume-to-volume or mass-to-mass ratio, whereas mg/l is a mass-to-volume relationship. …...
Getting to know your toxic end points Read More »
A topic we have discussed many times here and if you have ever attended one of my process safety courses or presentations you have most certainly heard my dissertation on the criticality of pressure testing and leak testing and the fact that these safety-critical functions come with some serious risks, especially if the pressure testing…...
The hazards of UNSAFE pressure testing Read More »
It is the year 2021 and OSHA’s Process Safety Management standard will be 29 years old this May. Most processing facilities have come a long way in improving their process safety, but most still lack a comprehensive WRITTEN management program for their Safety Controls, Alarms, and Interlocks (SCAI). These safety instrumented systems (SIS) play a…...
