Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP)

The process in progress at the time of the event was the manufacture of methatrexate, an anti-cancer drug. Shortly after employee #1 began to draw bromine liquid into the supposedly clean and empty charging pot, he heard a hissing sound. He then saw a purple haze spewing out from under the lid of the pot…....

An explosion occurred inside a mobile trailer containing five (5) gas-fueled clothing dryers at a fruit orchard and processing facility. The blast caused damage to the building, and the facilities manager, who was inside when it took place, received burns and contusions. In 2019, the gas-fueled clothing dryers were installed and converted from natural gas to…...

In recent years, we have seen many facilities begin to fill their own PIT LPG cylinders on-site rather than contract this service out. Typically, we find this “change” was poorly managed: no PPE Hazard Assessment, no (or very poor) training on the task, LPG improperly located, improper electrical classification around the LPG tank and the…...

During my time in the process industry, we usually had a “caustic scrubber” attached to our PSM/RMP covered process(s).  This meant this scrubber was “part of” the covered process.  I get a lot of pushback regarding covering “safety critical utilities” that are in place to either PREVENT, PROTECT, or MITIGATE an event from the covered…...

We routinely discuss the challenges and risks of performing Line/Equipment Opening (LEO) tasks, with one of the top 5 challenges being the “means used to verify” the pipe/equipment is at a Zero-Energy-State (ZES).  The factors that occurred in this incident probably happens by the hour in the process industry; it is why we ALWAYS have…...

Regardless of what CSB highlights in this video… TORQUE VALUES MATTER and having your Emergency Escape Respirator on your person all played a role in this accident! Also, SIMOPS is a term discussed the video.  CLICK HERE to see a great, and FREE, safety document explaining SIMOPS from our friends at the CCPS. I also…...

Regardless of what CSB highlights in this video… TORQUE VALUES MATTER and having your Emergency Escape Respirator on your person all played a role in this accident! Also, SIMOPS is a term discussed the video.  CLICK HERE to see a great, and FREE, safety document explaining SIMOPS from our friends at the CCPS. I also…...

A flash fire broke out at 626 Lynnway on Monday morning after a worker with a private demo company cut a pipe, according to the Fire Department’s Public Information Officer. The worker was transferred to a Hospital with “minor burns.” The worker is expected to make a full recovery.  The worker was carried out of…...

A contract worker died and two others were injured in an ammonia gas leak at a chemical factory. The three (3) contract workers, 24, 37, 24, were working at a chemical factory which was producing soda ash and other products. When they were trying to check an ammonia leak from a pipe around 3.15 p.m.,…...

In 2015 and 2022, I mentioned that the EPA proposed updating 68.85 by requiring Hot Work permits to be retained for five (5) years, where that frequency came from, and why they wanted to update the standard.  Members can read… EPA proposing a retention period for Hot Work Permits and How long do you keep…...