In August 2024, while loading anhydrous ammonia into a railcar at a manufacturing site, a shear coupling on the loadout arm failed to function. Two out of three bolts failed, causing the coupling to open and resulting in a loss of primary containment (LOPC) of pressurized liquefied ammonia, which formed an ammonia vapor cloud. A…...
Betting this was just under 10 pounds. That’s a RQ joke as the RQ for Cl2 is 10 pounds – CLEARLY we have exceeded that in this event. (But you never know!) All jokes aside, this is a big one. People wanting to know why it’s taking so long to get an “all clear” 2-hrs…...
Large-scale (10K pound) Cl2 Release in Freeport, TX Read More »
Respondent produced, used, or stored ammonia at the Facility and released a reportable quantity of an EHS, ammonia. On or about August 31, 2022, a “release,” as that term is defined by Section 329(8) of EPCRA, of ammonia in excess of 100 pounds occurred at the Facility (the release). As a result of the information…...
EPA EPCRA/CERCLA citations ($65K) for 350 pound NH3 release from refrigeration process Read More »
A 45-year-old senior fire captain is facing charges after authorities say he improperly conducted respirator fit tests for firefighters and lied about it. He is charged with forgery and tampering with records, the County Prosecutor’s Office said Friday. He signed reports stating the tests had been completed when they had not been finished between Jan…....
Fire Captain falsified Fit-Test Records and is facing charges Read More »
The following NFPA and ANSI standards, in whole or in part, are to be incorporated by reference into proposed rule 1910.156, per 29 CFR 1910.6. See 29 CFR 1910.6(a)(1). Provisions in the proposed standard are drawn from, or consistent with, the following NFPA standards, but these standards are not proposed to be incorporated by reference:…...
Standards Referenced in OSHA Proposed Rule 29 CFR 1910.156 (Emergency Response) Read More »
What is purpose of the list of extremely hazardous substances in regards to the emergency planning requirements of EPCRA? The extremely hazardous substances list and its threshold planning quantities are intended to help communities focus on the substances and facilities of most immediate concern for emergency planning and response. However, while the list includes many of…...
EHSs and the EPCRA emergency planning requirements Read More »
Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), a substance commonly used by firefighters, contains ethanol, 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) which is categorized as a glycol ether. Glycol ethers meet the definition of hazardous substance in CERCLA 101(14) because they are hazardous air pollutants pursuant to 112(b) of the Clean Air Act. In 1990, the Clean Air Amendments added 47 individual…...
Release notification requirements for releases of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Read More »
This once caught my eye after all the issues I have encountered with lame SDSs! Remember, these are the first line of information for responding agencies, and man, have they gone downhill over the years. With all the hype of how the GHS would improve the MSDSs of the old days, it has been a…...
Responsibility for SDS Accuracy (EPCRA) Read More »
A facility has a spill of an extremely hazardous substance in an amount greater than its reportable quantity. The spill occurs on a concrete floor that is inside a facility building. Before the spill can be cleaned up, a portion (less than RQ) of the EHS enters the outside atmosphere through the window. Persons in…...
Spills onto concrete floors inside a building (EPCRA reporting) Read More »
The notice required by section 304 of EPCRA is to be given by the owner or operator of a facility (by telephone, radio, or in person) immediately after the release of a CERCLA hazardous substance or of an EHS at or above the RQ. Notice is to be given to:… Membership Required You must be...
It is being said that the fatal explosion that killed a 35-year-old battalion chief while operating at a tractor-trailer fire was a “smoke explosion.” The investigation continues, looking at other fuel sources, such as the foam insulation in the trailer. They have ruled out a BLEVE. A sample of rigid foam insulation from the trailer…...
The Illinois Department of Labor’s (IDOL) Division of Occupational Safety and Health (IL OSHA), in collaboration with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), Illinois Fire Chiefs Association (IFCA) and Mutual Aid Box Alarm System-Illinois (MABAS-Illinois) have developed a sample incident command, accountability, and mayday standard operating guideline…...
IL OSHA Provides Resource for Fire Departments Read More »
