Emergency Response

NIOSH releases report on Maine Lumber Mill silo fire and subsequent explosion that killed two firefighters and critically injured 13 more

/ Emergency Response, OSHA Compliance /

NIOSH has released its Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation report regarding the Maine Lumber Mill COM DUST explosion. Lots of learnings in this report. Fire origin and explosion cause The State Fire Marshal’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) cause-and-origin preliminary investigation classified the fire as accidental. It indicated that the area […]

What would you consider “applicable safety equipment that may be worn during actual respirator use which could interfere with respirator fit” (Sweating the small stuff series)

/ Emergency Response, OSHA Compliance, Respiratory Protection /

Bear with me on this, as I know this is getting deeper than most think about Respiratory Protection. But the vast majority of the people I train and fit test are personnel who enter/work in IDLH environments, so I get very picky about my RP practices. OSHA’s long-standing Fit Test Procedures in Mandatory Appendix A

Which flammable gas (methane or pentane) is better to use in calibrating my direct-reading instrument? (Sweating the small stuff series)

/ Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP), Emergency Response, Hazardous Materials, OSHA Compliance, Permit Required Confined Spaces /

Choosing between methane and pentane for calibrating a direct-reading combustible gas indicator (CGI) depends primarily on your specific application, the target hazards in your environment, and sensor technology constraints. But there are BOTH a “Pentane Advantage” and a “Methane Advantage” Match the Target Gas (Best Practice for Specific Hazards)

Materials of Construction for Direct Reading Instruments: Sample Tubing (Sweating the small stuff series)

/ Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP), Emergency Response, Hazardous Materials, OSHA Compliance, Permit Required Confined Spaces /

When you pump reactive, highly polar, or oxidizing gases like chlorine (Cl2), chlorine dioxide (ClO2), or ammonia (NH3) through standard silicone, polyurethane, or Tygon tubing, the tubing acts like a chemical absorber/scrubber. The gas is actively consumed or trapped by the hose before it ever reaches the instrument’s sensors. This creates severe process safety and

Setting the record straight… Is there a maximum length of sample tubing for MSA/Drager/RKI/Industrial Scientific direct-reading instruments? (Sweating the small stuff series)

/ Emergency Response, Hazardous Materials, OSHA Compliance, Permit Required Confined Spaces /

NOTE: Be sure to check your BRAND and MODEL for specifics. I have used MSA devices in this article because they are the brand I have used for 30+ years, and I am a huge fan of their products. ALL brands will have similar restrictions. ATTENTION TO these details matters! Yes, MSA enforces strict maximum

NIOSH UPDATES three (3) hydrogen halides IDLH values

/ Emergency Response, Hazardous Materials, OSHA Compliance, Respiratory Protection /

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has finalized Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) profiles and technical analytical standards for major toxic hydrogen halides. These mandates establish airborne exposure limits to guarantee rapid worker escape under acute exposure conditions and dictate strict sampling guidelines for modern industrial hygiene. NIOSH has updated

Do you consider “Fit Testing” records to be “medical records” and off-limits to a 2nd/3rd-party auditor?

/ Emergency Response, OSHA Compliance, Respiratory Protection /

In the past 12-months I have been told by three (3) organizations that I can not audit the fit testing records because they are “personal medical records”. After some time, I finally convinced their legal team that fit tests are not medical records, and I was then allowed to audit the records. And of course,

Medical Evals for Respiratory Protection (RP) standard do NOT qualify as the HAZWOPER Medical Surveillance

/ Emergency Response, OSHA Compliance, Respiratory Protection /

The Respiratory Protection (RP) standard medical questionnaire for 1910.134 will NOT satisfy the HAZWOPER medical surveillance requirement. The intent and requirements for medical surveillance under HAZWOPER are very different from those required by the Respiratory Protection standard. The intent of the HAZWOPER medical surveillance requirements are two-fold:

OSHA emergency response standard update

/ Emergency Response, Free, OSHA Compliance /

The proposed OSHA Emergency Response standard is currently in the final review stages. According to OSHA’s most recent Unified Agenda (published in July 2026), the final rule is projected to be published in April 2027. Once finalized, this rule will completely replace the outdated 1980 “Fire Brigades” standard (29 CFR 1910.156) and dramatically expand basic

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