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Recently, I visited an old client after a long absence. As I pulled into the parking lot, I immediately noticed the upgrade to the freshly paved and striped parking lot. My last visit, years earlier, I ended up parking in a crater in a gravel lot that some smaller cars would not have been able
Today, the CSB released its final report addressing three (3) serious chemical incidents involving toxic hydrogen fluoride (HF) at a facility in Geismar, Louisiana. The incidents occurred over a period of less than three years, from October 2021 to June 2024, and reveal systemic safety failures at the facility. These incidents were LOPC events, two
One of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of injury while operating machines is to use what’s called the Hierarchy of Controls method. It ranks the ways to reduce risks from most effective to least effective. Often, you’ll need to combine control methods to best protect workers.
I am sharing this incident as we continue to find air receivers that are 20+ years old and have never once been inspected as a pressure vessel. We even see this in PSM/RMP-covered facilities – the facility does a nice job on their process pressure vessels, but overlooks their air receivers. Air receivers have a
At 11:30 a.m. on September 7, 2024, Employee #1 (41) and the owner (51) were working inside a silage silo when they were overcome by hazardous vapors. A third employee entered the silo in an attempt to assist them.
I wish OSHA would provide more details on this facility, but this is all we got… At 10:00 p.m. on October 10, 2024, an employee (33) and a coworker working as boilermakers for a facilities support service were working on a 12-inch pipe to flip the blind. The pipe released hydrogen sulfide gas, exposing the
At 10:00 a.m. on November 13, 2024, Employee #1 (23) was inside a large section of HVAC duct applying Design Polymerics DP 2590 Duct Liner Spray Adhesive to repair sagging insulation. After completing the adhesive application, Employee #1 used a pin welder to secure the insulation. While using the welder, a spark ignited flammable vapors
At 1:53 p.m. on September 18, 2024, Employee #1 (27) was working with a barrel containing an unknown substance when the barrel exploded. The explosion caused blunt force trauma to the employee’s face and head. The steel barrel was the source of the impact. The employee was fatally injured by the blast.
At 2:46 p.m. on September 16, 2024, Employee #1 (20) and Employee #2 (age unknown) were conducting inspections and maintenance on a tanker trailer previously used to transport propane. The tank was to be emptied using flaring, in which the remaining gas is vented through a hose to a large tripod “flare” device. The top
I have scrubbed the names of the accused and deceased worker, as this could happen at just about any facility where hazardous materials are present. I should also state, the lawyers are suing the Refinery, the deceased employer (a contractor firm hired by the refinery), the manufacturer of the H2S monitor, the parent company of
OSHA announced it has updated the inspection program that directs agency enforcement resources to establishments with the highest rates of injuries and illnesses based on injury and illness data submitted in accordance with OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements. The Site-Specific Targeting program is OSHA’s primary planned inspection program for non-construction establishments with 20 or more employees. Using OSHA Form 300A data
