I am not sure who, where, and when this dirty little lie began, but we have been seeing an incorrect application of NFPA 70, 500.7(K) Detection System for Flammable Gases, item (3) Interior of a Building or Enclosed Space. It seems businesses are looking for any way out of having an electrically classified area and many are…...
We routinely find facility siting issues when LPG Tank(s) and Flammable Liquid Tank(s) are located in the same area. OSHA, NFPA, IFC, etc., all require a separation distance between the two (2) types of tanks. This is ALL about preventing a setup for a BLEVE, as a pool of flammable liquid finding its way under…...
An ammonia system at an industrial food processing facility over-pressured, activating one of its overpressure safety relief valves. Ammonia was released into the atmosphere for approximately eight (8) minutes until the refrigeration compressor was manually shut down by disconnecting the supply power, and the pressure in the system was reduced. INVESTIGATION CONCLUSIONS… Membership Required You...
Employee #1 was using an oxygen-acetylene torch to weld a sign to the top of a school bus in the southwestern bay of a six-bay garage. While performing this task, he sprayed water from a fire extinguisher onto a coworker walking by the bus. In retaliation, the coworker picked up a hubcap filled with liquid…...
At 11:43 a.m. on February 24, 2025, Employee #1 was spray painting aircraft parts while wearing a supplied air respirator. Nitrogen backflowed into the breathing air system, displacing oxygen and causing the employee to be asphyxiated. Employee #1 was fatally injured…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a...
Department of Labor finds New Mexico company wrongfully fired inspector who raised concerns during gas pipeline installation at Oklahoma site OKLAHOMA CITY – The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered a New Mexico-based inspection company to reinstate and compensate a terminated worker who reported safety concerns during the installation of a natural gas pipeline in…...
Way back in 2015, I shared a practice I have used for most of my career, after working a major turnaround back in the 1990’s. And anyone who has worked a turnaround at a processing plant will certainly understand what I am trying to address with this practice. Bottom line, we should NEVER put the…...
Reporting Period: October 2024 – September 2025 This report summarizes the enforcement activity for the chemical manufacturing sector over the past fiscal year. With 883 total citations across 264 inspections, the industry faced over $3.78 million in penalties. Executive Summary: The “Top 5” Risk Areas The majority of financial and safety risks is concentrated in…...
Period: October 2024 – September 2025 Executive Summary During the fiscal period of October 2024 through September 2025, OSHA issued a total of 20 citations following 14 inspections related to Standard 1910.120. The total current penalty for these violations is $167,073, averaging approximately $8,354 per citation. The data indicate that the Manufacturing sector is the…...
Period: October 2024 – September 2025 1. Executive Summary During the fiscal period from October 2024 through September 2025, OSHA Standard 1910.134 (Respiratory Protection) remained a significant enforcement focus. Across all 3-digit NAICS subsectors, a total of 2,250 citations were issued, resulting from 959 inspections, with total current penalties amounting to $3,279,655. The data indicate…...
Reporting Period: October 2024 – September 2025 Executive Summary During the FY 2025 reporting period, OSHA issued 309 citations across 112 inspections related to the Permit-Required Confined Space standard (1910.146). Total penalties for this period reached $2,174,234. The data reveal a heavy concentration of enforcement in the manufacturing sector, though the highest average penalties per…...
Period: October 2024 – September 2025 Executive Summary Between October 2024 and September 2025, OSHA issued 2,550 citations for Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) violations across all industries. These citations resulted from 1,427 inspections and carried a total penalty weight of $16,446,984. The data indicates that the manufacturing sector remains the primary focus of LOTO enforcement, accounting for…...
