On April 11, 2020, at 11:25 p.m., a spent caustic release occurred. One (1) operator was seriously injured by skin exposure to the corrosive liquid. At the time of the incident, the operator was implementing a temporary procedure to remove liquid from a chemical hose connected to fill a portable storage tank (“frac tank”) that […]
On January 7, 2023, at approximately 4:55 p.m., about one (1) pound of anhydrous ammonia was released at the facility. Exposure to the toxic ammonia gas seriously injured one refrigeration technician. At the time of the incident, the employee was working on an ammonia compressor that was “out-of-service”. The ammonia compressor is used in the
A plastics company was having its 5-year piping inspection done, and the inspectors found a crack in a valve under the 30,000-gallon storage tank. As a precaution, both tanks were drained to safely make the necessary repairs. As part of the facility’s standard protocol, the company called the fire department and conducted preventive evacuations.
U.S. EPA has reached a settlement with a food processing plant and its cold storage warehouse, under which the company paid a $1.1 million civil penalty. The company violated federal Clean Air Act (CAA) chemical safety requirements. These violations involve the safe handling of anhydrous ammonia, a hazardous chemical used for cooling and refrigeration. This
The three Syrian workers who died of suffocation in the Marj area of West Bekaa, Lebanon in an incident that occurred around August 14, 2025, were not identified by name in the initial news reports. News coverage confirmed that the bodies of the three men were removed from the manhole by the Masnaa Civil Defense
A boiler explosion occurred in a factory that processes oil in the Dominican Republic and left a worker dead. The employee died after suffering burns to over 70% of his body. Authorities are investigating the causes of the explosion.
If we asked 100 people if 35 psig is a lethal pressure, how many do you think would answer yes? Those who UNDERSTAND PSI/PSIG know that we can not answer that question without knowing the VOLUME of air being used. Maybe 35 psig is not lethal when it’s inside a sewing thimble… But when that
I hope that in today’s workplaces, everyone knows we do NOT “splash fill” flammable liquids. However, this simple fact is often overlooked or unknown when adding a non-flammable solution to a flammable one. Its not the product that matters, it’s the free fall that creates the static within the flammable atmosphere.
At 1:30 p.m. on August 7, 2022, a 55-year-old production supervisor was working in his office when the deluge system pre-discharge alarm activated. Approximately 30 seconds after the audible alarm engaged, the foam generators activated and began dispensing 2.2% high-expansion foam. The employee attempted to exit his office to reach a safe point, but he
The Safety Champions Program is a new initiative that helps employers develop and implement effective safety and health programs. The main goal of safety and health programs is to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths. The Program incorporates the seven (7) core elements of Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs: The Safety Champion Program
I ALWAYS encourage clients to be able to MANAGE their inventory when something goes wrong. Many have heeded my advice, and when they have a leak on a tank, they simply transfer the hazardous material to their “emergency tank,” or they have set their maximum levels in other tanks so they have spare capacity on
An SMS needs a feedback loop! The data from that feedback loop needs to be VERIFIED and VALIDATED as accurate BEFORE it is used to make decisions within the SMS. Just imagine driving your vehicle with NO FEEDBACK. No speedometer, no engine temp, no blinker feedback, no RPMs, NOTHING. You’re just driving, maybe relying on
