Hazardous Materials

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...

Gas detection systems are required to detect leaks in many uses and hazardous operations as regulated by BOTH the IBC and IFC. Gas detection systems are required in:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

The Centers for Disease Control released a report today saying that a Tyson poultry plant worker who poured a solution into a 55-gallon drum, releasing chlorine gas, could not read the English label on the drum that would have alerted him to its contents, but Tyson disputes the findings…. Membership Required You must be a member to...

Since 2003, the International Fire Code has offered an “alternative” to complying with all the special hazard chapters of the “code”; it’s called the Performance-Based Design Alternative (PBDA).  This alternative was intended to provide some relief to facilities that are already doing PSM/RMP style activities for their hazardous material(s) and to provide an IMPROVED alternative to…...

Recent reports published by the National Academies Press provide conclusions and recommendations for improving acute exposure guideline level (AEGL) documents for several chemicals and chemical classes. AEGLs were developed by the National Advisory Council to provide values with which to assess acute adverse health effects for extremely hazardous substances (EHSs)…. Membership Required You must be...

On July 13, 2012, EPA modified the EPCRA Section 312 Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Forms (Tier I and Tier II) to add new mandatory and optional data elements under the facility identification and contact information sections of both forms. EPA also revised some existing data elements on the chemical reporting section of the forms…...

For nearly 16 years I have seen clips of a “dashcam” video that claims an NH3 transportation accident (w/ nurse tank) claimed the life of an IL State Trooper.  The video is on dozens of websites and we even see it used in training courses and almost always the video is depicted as being real…...

FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2012–01 to remind shippers and consignees of railroad tank cars containing odorized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), of the importance of taking actions to ensure that a sufficient level of odorant remains in the LPG throughout the entire transportation cycle. FRA is issuing this notice to raise awareness within the hazardous materials community,…...

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This traffic camera footage of a Bromine Release in Russia is some of the most amazing HAZMAT footage I have ever seen.  The officials at the time and when I reported it in the Incident Alerts stated it was a “small release from a pail”.  Now with this footage available, we can clearly see this…...