Since the tragic loss of life in the West Fertilizer explosion, the topic of access to “safety codes/standards” and their “availability” has been brewing underground once again. But with regards to Ammonium Nitrate (AN) safety, there is NO EXCUSE, as the three (3) MOST reputable safety organizations: 1) NFPA, 2) FM Global, and 3) International…...
FREE Resources for Ammonium Nitrate Safety (NO EXCUSES!) Read More »
CLICK HERE to download the pdf http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/coffee-break/cb_fp_2013_21.pdf… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Bulk Liquid Oxygen Separation (USFA) Read More »
Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) have requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigate gaps in regulatory oversight of the West, Texas fertilizer plant where an April 17 explosion killed 15 and injured more than 200. Miller, the senior Democratic member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, and Courtney, the senior Democratic member of…...
House Dems Ask GAO to Examine Oversight Gaps at West, TX & Similar Facilities Nationwide Read More »
The International Fire Code (IFC) is in use or adopted in 43 states, the District of Columbia, NYC, Guam and Puerto Rico. To dig deeper and find out if your “Authority having Jurisdication” (AHJ) can enfore the IFC – CLICK HERE (pdf)…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a...
Has your state adopted the International Fire Code (IFC)? Read More »
There has been much written about the Ammonimum Nitrate (AN) stored at the West Fertilizer facility in West, TX. The investigation is still on-going; however, investigators have confirmed that AN was stored on site and it is their leading suspect in the explosion that killed a dozen emergency responders. Last week the media focus shifted…...
Storing Ammonium Nitrate in Ohio Read More »
There have been many questions as to how the ammonium nitrate at the West, TX fertilizer distributor could have blown up. Investigators have still not stated with 100% certainty that the explosion involved AN, but it is my belief they are just crossing all their “t’s” and dotting all their “i’s” before stating this. Unless…...
Ammonium Nitrate Sensitization (explaining one West, TX scenario) Read More »
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced that the increased maximum civil penalties for safety violations of Federal hazardous materials transportation law and the regulations issued under that law that lead to death, serious injuries or extensive property damage are now in effect. The increased penalties are being…...
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2012 HAZMAT Loading/Unloading Incidents Read More »
Many safety and process safety professional think incidents like this are “rare”. They would be wrong, unless of course their definition of “rare” is a bit looser than mine! I do not have official numbers of the frequency of this type of incident but I am trying to obtain them and will certainly pass them…...
UNLOADING HAZMAT to the wrong tank (CL2 Incident) Read More »
PHMSA is issuing this Advisory Bulletin to inform owners and operators of gas transmission pipelines that if the pipeline pressure exceeds maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) plus the build-up allowed for operation of pressure-limiting or control devices, the owner or operator must report the exceedance to PHMSA on or before the fifth day following the…...
Pipeline Safety: Reporting of Exceedances of Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure Read More »
Effective January 1, 2007, PHMSA adopted a shipping description sequence consisting of identification number first, followed by the proper shipping name, hazard class or division number, and packing group (e.g., UN1133, Adhesives, 3, PG II). This new shipping description sequence is mandatory on shipping documents prepared according to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Technical Instructions…...
NEW DOT Shipping Papers REQUIREMENT EFFECTIVE 1/1/13 Read More »
One problem that seems to run wild across all businesses is DOT’s “25 feet and in line of sight” rule for unloading/loading hazardous materials. Just this year (September & November 2012) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued LOIs on the matter, reaffirming their expectation in regards to this rule. The letters stated…… Membership Required...
The DOT 25′ Attendant Rule Read More »
