Hazardous Materials

CSB Issues Final Report on Toxic HF Incidents at Geismar, Louisiana Facility

Today, the CSB released its final report addressing three (3) serious chemical incidents involving toxic hydrogen fluoride (HF) at a facility in Geismar, Louisiana. The incidents occurred over a period of less than three years, from October 2021 to June 2024, and reveal systemic safety failures at the facility. These incidents were LOPC events, two…...

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Defining RAGAGEPs for Process Safety Management (Rand Study)

Process safety management (PSM) is a suite of risk management elements designed to minimize the risk of accidents associated with industrial processes using highly hazardous materials. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) PSM regulation requires that process equipment and equipment inspection and testing adhere to recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices…...

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Changes to states/counties with “Delegated RMP Enforcement”

The current list of delegated states and counties is: Additionally, the following territories and local jurisdictions have delegation: Kentucky, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands NO LONGER implement the program and the Regional office has taken over implementation for those areas. Florida has a partial delegation (everything but propane facilities) North Dakota has a partial…...

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The first documented case of static electrical ignition of a household substance causing facial burns (NIH 2019)

A 60-year-old female worker in a plastic moulding workshop was cleaning a large plastic bin. The bin had been vacuum cleaned and then sprayed with ‘Ambersil’, a highly flammable mould-removing aerosol spray that can be purchased for domestic use. The patient attempted to wipe the bin, but when she placed her face inside it to…...

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Fuel Truck Fire (caused by Static) at Airport Quickly Extinguished

At around 2 p.m., the truck caught fire during what was described as a routine annual meter inspection by New York State Weights and Measures technicians. It involved the transfer of 100-octane aviation gasoline between internal tanks on the truck. As testing concluded and fuel was being returned to the tank, vapors emitted from the…...

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PRCS Fatalities in Silage Silo (HAZ ATM with attempted rescue; $10K)

At 11:30 a.m. on September 7, 2024, Employee #1 (41) and the owner (51) were working inside a silage silo when they were overcome by hazardous vapors. A third employee entered the silo in an attempt to assist them…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log...

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Line Break gone BAD (H2S & $49K)

I wish OSHA would provide more details on this facility, but this is all we got… At 10:00 p.m. on October 10, 2024, an employee (33) and a coworker working as boilermakers for a facilities support service were working on a 12-inch pipe to flip the blind. The pipe released hydrogen sulfide gas, exposing the…...

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Cutting a USED metal drum causes a fatal explosion ($19K)

At 1:53 p.m. on September 18, 2024, Employee #1 (27) was working with a barrel containing an unknown substance when the barrel exploded. The explosion caused blunt force trauma to the employee’s face and head. The steel barrel was the source of the impact. The employee was fatally injured by the blast…. Membership Required You...

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LPG tanker “flaring” operation kills two (2) workers ($39K)

At 2:46 p.m. on September 16, 2024, Employee #1 (20) and Employee #2 (age unknown) were conducting inspections and maintenance on a tanker trailer previously used to transport propane. The tank was to be emptied using flaring, in which the remaining gas is vented through a hose to a large tripod “flare” device. The top…...

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H2S fatality @ Refinery Lawsuit

I have scrubbed the names of the accused and deceased worker, as this could happen at just about any facility where hazardous materials are present. I should also state, the lawyers are suing the Refinery, the deceased employer (a contractor firm hired by the refinery), the manufacturer of the H2S monitor, the parent company of…...

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Safety System (Shear Coupling & Sensor) failure during bulk transfer (Railcar) enabled anhydrous ammonia release

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…...

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Know your chemicals… STWKY! (Methanol)

All alcohols are NOT created equal! Alcohols may be flammable, but there is one alcohol whose flammability is NOT its primary hazard. Most know about ETHANOL. It is used in fuels, as well as in food and drinks. It is flammable, and its flammability is its PRIMARY HAZARD. But its sister, METHANOL, is VERY DIFFERENT…....

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