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 […]
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.
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
Changing a building or space from an F-1 (Moderate-hazard factory) to an H-3 (High-hazard, physical hazard) occupancy is a significant move to a higher relative hazard category. Under the Ohio Building Code (OBC) and the International Building Code (IBC), this transition triggers a comprehensive regulatory review, and the existing space must be brought up to
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
In many PSM/RMP covered facilities we have two different ASME B31 sections applying to different piping and in our work we see a lot of facilities asking… Why does it matter which ASME B31 section I apply to my piping circuits? For example, the plant has an industrial boiler and in that application, they correctly
An incident involving PLASTIC sulphuric acid piping at a gas plant. Two workers were operating valves on a 1″ polyvinyl chloride (PVC) drain line so they could transfer sulphuric acid from a storage tank. They were following a written procedure, had held a tailgate meeting to discuss the hazards and emergency procedures, and had all
In response to the tragic 2017 incident in which several people were killed by exposure to ammonia at an ice arena in Fernie, British Columbia, ABSA is now extending the scope of the plant registry to include ammonia refrigeration plants and they just published new guidance and establishes requirements for the ammonia-bearing refrigeration systems operating
This is a MUST read for those of us in the process safety arena… OPEN to everyone as this is from ABSA – the pressure equipment safety authority
Here is a listing of just some of the Loss of Primary Containment (LOPC) events involving pressure equipment unsafe conditions, accidents, and fires that have been reported to and investigated by ABSA. This information is provided to make people aware of the general nature of pressure equipment unsafe conditions, accidents, and fires. The intent is to
An operator was found unresponsive at an Oil Battery. The operator’s body was found lying inside a partially open utilidor where a valve was open and gas escaping. The battery is a sour gas (oil & gas with hydrogen sulphide) site. The Medical Examiner report stated the cause of death was due to hydrogen sulphide
