Safety Info Posts

Safety Thought of the Week (from Richard I. Cook, MD)

Catastrophe requires multiple failures – single-point failures are not enough The array of defenses works. System operations are generally successful. Overt catastrophic failure occurs when small, apparently innocuous failures join to create opportunity for a systemic accident. Each of these small failures is necessary to cause catastrophe but only the combination is sufficient to permit…...

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Decommissioning is the final stage of a Process Life Cycle

An ammonia leak occurred inside the machinery room of a public athletic club with indoor ice facilities. The leak happened during the decommissioning work of an ammonia refrigeration condenser by a licensed refrigeration contractor, which resulted in the facility enacting its Ammonia Release Emergency Protocol. The incident was likely caused by the contractor not properly…...

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Pressure Safety Valve/Relief Valve Installation Failure

One of the top questions newcomers to process safety ask is, “Why do I have to have a written procedure to remove and install new relief valves?”From the EPSC Learning Sheet October 2024What Happened:The bonnet vent in a Balanced Bellows Pressure Safety Valve (BB-PSV) was found in service, but still fitted with a shipping plug…....

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EPA RMP/EPCRA citations @ food facility (NH3 & $178K)

Respondent owns or operates the AMPI production facility that uses anhydrous ammonia in its refrigeration processes. From December 20, 2021, to May 17, 2022, EPA conducted an offsite compliance monitoring investigation of the Facility. During that investigation, the EPA representatives identified alleged violations of section 112(r)(1) of the CAA and section 312 of the EPCRA…....

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EPA RMP citations @ food ingredients facility (NH3, H2 & $207K w/ $122K SEP)

Respondent is the owner and operator of a facility that has more than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia and Hydrogen in processes. Information gathered during the EPA inspection revealed that Respondent uses anhydrous ammonia in the production of food ingredients and produces and stores hydrogen, and therefore, is engaged in a process at its facility…....

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Contaminated/flammable refrigerant is suspected in refrigerated container explosions

According to reports, thirteen (13) explosions, three (3) of which involved fatalities, occurred over the past ten (10) years, leading to the grounding of hundreds of refrigerated containers worldwide. The causes of the explosions were investigated and thought to have been caused by contaminated or incorrect refrigerant being added to the refrigeration system while it…...

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Fatal Reffer Explosion in GA (Updates)

It has been 1-month since the tragic death of Greene County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Chris Eddy in GA while working a semi-truck fire on the side of the roadway. We still have not received any formal information on this event, but there has been some erroneous reporting.  Out of respect for Mr. Eddy, I…...

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Breaking the plane of a PRCS (Flammable atm) w/Video

It is a common question… why does OSHA define entry as… Entry means the action by which a person passes through an opening into a permit-required confined space. Entry includes ensuing work activities in that space and is considered to have occurred as soon as any part of the entrant’s body breaks the plane of…...

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Mechanical Exhaust Ventilation – EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN Switch

A lot of folks recognize the need for mechanical exhaust ventilation in areas where there is a flammable and toxic exposure hazard.  The general rule of thumb for this mechanical exhaust ventilation is 1 CFM per square foot of floor space with at least six air changes per hour.  But there are two (2) other…...

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Fatal Welding Accident – Tanker

1910.252(a)(3)(i) Used containers. No welding, cutting, or other hot work shall be performed on used drums, barrels, tanks or other containers until they have been cleaned so thoroughly as to make absolutely certain that there are no flammable materials present or any substances such as greases, tars, acids, or other materials which when subjected to…...

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Is LOTO a fair barometer to measure management commitment to worker safety?

Way back in 2006, when Dennis retired after a nearly 40-year career with OSHA and came to work with me at SAFTENG, we always traveled together, and he TAUGHT me more about “safety management” during those trips than I had learned in the preceding 13 years in industrial safety. One of the items we discussed…...

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