Hazardous Materials

Let’ not fool ourselves or let the media attempt to fool us!  As safety professionals, we all know that the LACK OF INSPECTION by either OSHA or EPA played NO ROLE in the tragic accident in West, TX.  Just ask yourself this simple question:  How many accident investigations have you conducted and determined that a…...

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…...

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…...

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…...

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…...

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…...

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…...

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…...