Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP)

Determining frequency of emergency coordination activities (changes to response capabilities)

Today, the EPA’s RMP Info Center published the following guidance on the REVISED emergency coordination activities in the RMP Rule.  The Risk Management Program regulations require owners and operators of stationary sources to coordinate their response needs ANNUALLY, or more frequently if necessary, with local emergency planning and response organizations (40 CFR §68.93(a)). Are stationary

Face Coverings, flame-retardant/resistant clothing (FRC) and hazardous locations

UPDATED 6/4/2020 with an FR face-covering item. (NOT an endorsement!) Westex UltraSoft® FR Face Mask 7oz. Westex UltraSoft® 88% Cotton / 12% High Tenacity Nylon Sizes: Regular Colors: Orange (OR) Style: FR9805 Source: https://rascofr.com/product-category/face-covering/ Last week the good folks are DuPont opened a can of proverbial worms that about a dozen of us have been

Requirements for when rooms or buildings exceed the maximum allowable quantity per control area for flammable liquids

5705.3.7 Rooms or buildings for quantities exceeding the maximum allowable quantity per control area.Where required by Section 5705.3.5.3 or 5705.3.6.1, rooms or buildings used for the use, dispensing, or mixing of flammable and combustible liquids in quantities exceeding the maximum allowable quantity per control area shall be in accordance with Sections 5705.3.7.1 through 5705.3.7.6.3.

Worker injured by explosion in hose during pressure testing (WorkSafe BC)

Date of incident: March 2014 Notice of incident number: 2014155400035 Employer: Heavy equipment manufacturer Incident summary Two workers were bending aluminum tubing as they assembled a decanting post, a metal pipe structure used to decant liquid natural gas from tanks. Another worker was pressure testing a nearby decanting post to identify leaks. An explosion occurred

Welding Inspectors and their documentation

We have discussed the requirements for welder certification and their documentation, pressure and leak testing and its documentation, but the one area that I have not covered yet is the documentation of the Welding Inspector(s).  As we have said, the certified (“coded”) welder makes the weld(s) and then BEFORE any testing, a certified welding inspector

A shaft seal failure on a compressor in a refrigeration system released approximately 5lbs of ammonia (Technical Safety BC)

INCIDENT OVERVIEW An ammonia release resulted in the temporary shutdown of an ammonia plant in an industrial food processing facility. Ammonia refrigeration systems are designed to operate at 250 pounds per square inch gauge (Psig). The major components of the system like compressors, evaporators, liquid receivers, piping, and fittings, etc. are installed in a machinery

Intermittent compressor shaft seal leak resulted in multiple ammonia releases (Technical Safety BC)

DESCRIPTION Ammonia compressor seal failure   INCIDENT OVERVIEW An intermittent compressor shaft seal leak resulted in multiple ammonia releases which activated low level (<50 ppm) ammonia detector alarms. The premises were not evacuated as the release was contained in a well ventilated mechanical room and the detector did not initiate a high-level evacuation alarm.

Black liquor pulp by-product released from ruptured SAE 304 stainless steel piping elbow (Erosion/Corrosion – Technical Safety BC)

DESCRIPTION Kraft paper pulping, strong black liquor was sprayed onto buildings and equipment.   INCIDENT OVERVIEW Erosion of a stainless steel pressure piping elbow located on top of a black liquor storage tank resulted in strong black liquor being sprayed onto buildings, equipment, and the and surrounding area.   INVESTIGATION CONCLUSIONS Black liquor is the

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