Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP)

Many years ago I had an open debate with a “grandfather of refrigeration” on his turf in front of about 30 other refrigeration professionals and the debate was about “flange connections”, ASME B16, and TORQUE and how it all applied to covered processes regardless of what the HHC/EHS was, including anhydrous ammonia in a refrigeration…...

Although this Coast Gaurd Bulletin is specific to maritime vessels, it can and should be applied to relief valves on land as well.  There are some really good practices in this bulletin, such as when to perform the test in-situ vs. bench testing.  The incident happened when a relief valve on the associated compressor was…...

A lot of older plants in the USA use their water piping as their main ground for a lot of purposes.  In one such plant, the grounding connections for the flammable liquid transfers were tied into the water piping.  One day a water pipe failed and caused quite a bit of damage; the price to…...

A number of years ago a former client decided that process safety was not worth the effort and wanted to get their process below the 10,000 pounds TQ for their LPG.  They hired a local architect/engineering firm that had no experience with the storage, handling, and processing of LPGs.  This “architect/engineering firm” advised the facility…...

Since I began consulting I learned of something I thought I would never see… an ASME pressure vessel without a pressure relief device (PRD).  Typically when I have come across one of these vessels I have gotten the “grandfather” or “its too small” justification.  So let’s discuss these two items and see if they are…...

The department is initiating rulemaking to implement the advanced safety training requirements for High Hazard Facilities. Chapter 49.80 RCW, enacted in 2019, requires owners of petroleum refining or petrochemical manufacturing facilities to use a skilled and trained workforce when contracting for construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair, or maintenance work. By January 1, 2022, all workers…...

So much media coverage of the explosion in Northwest Houston on January 24, 2020.  It is assumed that the explosion was caused by a propylene leak, a flammable gas that most people had never heard of before the explosion.  What is so sad is that some politicians are jumping on board this tragedy and calling…...