Most adults have seen Sky Lanterns in movies, and some of you may have even participated in their release. They are very popular at weddings, festivals, and memorials. But these devices pose serious fire hazards and are being banned by many local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). They are essentially a paper hot air balloon with […]
Respondent is the owner and/or operator of a facility that uses, handles, and/or stores more than a threshold quantity of ammonia (anhydrous), ammonia (concentration 20% or greater), and chlorine, which are regulated substances, as specified at 40 C.F.R. §§ 68.115 and 68.130. During the inspection, the EPA representative observed alleged violations of section 112(r) of
Respondent is an owner and operator of a petroleum refinery. Refining operations at the Facility are currently idled. EPA conducted an inspection of the Facility on September 20 – 26, 2022, to assess compliance with Section 112(r) of the CAA (the “Inspection”). During the Inspection, and in a letter dated October 13, 2022, EPA informed
In FY 2022, the agency continued its efforts to reduce risks of accidental releases at industrial and chemical facilities, such as: Concluded three (3) judicial actions, 145 administrative penalty actions, and 18 administrative compliance orders In FY 2022, EPA renewed its presence in the field and increased its on-site inspections by more than 150% compared to
As we have discussed at length, OSHA is in the process of updating the HAZCOM Standard (1910.1200) to reflect GHS Rev. 7. The most significant change in this adoption will be how Flammable Gases are categorized in 1910.1200 Appendix B, and this will also impact the PSM standard (1910.119) application. Here is OSHA’s official justification
The Respondent operates plastics material and resin manufacturing processes at the Facility that produces polymers used in various applications and products, meeting the definition of “process “, as defined by 40 C.F.R. § 68.3. The Respondent produces, processes, handles, and stores 1,3-Butadiene, Chlorine, Propylene oxide, and Acrylonitrile at the Facility. On February 2, 2022, an
OSHA’s VPP efforts in process safety has offered the following questions regarding the PSM activities in the process. Here are seven questions that will help you gauge your level of PSM expectations related to ammonia refrigeration:
Mr. Trevor Kletz is, without a doubt, my favorite author. In 2001 he published his book on Human Factors in process safety – “An engineer’s view of human error” (Third edition). It is a MUST-READ for those who practice process safety, significantly if you facilitate process hazard(s) analysis (PHA), including the Human Factors analysis. His
Admiral Rickover’s 7 Steps to Safety Success need to be adhered to today more than ever! They are simple and timeless, as he lived by them in the 1950’s and 60’s while building the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power program.
A safety management system should mirror the manufacturing process’s quality management system. The only difference is the “customer”… in the manufacturing process the customer is external – in the safety process, our employees are our customers. Both management systems REQUIRE SAMPLING and ACCURATE process measurements.
Safe storage, handling, and transfer of hazardous materials is key to reducing chemical accidents and dangerous mixtures of incompatible materials. Close storage of incompatible chemicals could create a risk of fire, explosion, or release of toxic gases and fumes. Storage locations should be according to the fire code, have proper fire protection, and are structurally
In OSHA’s fiscal year (October 2021 through September 2022), the agency conducted 151 Respiratory Protection inspections and issued 325 citations, with penalties totaling $1,388,505. 62311 / Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) was #1 in Citations with 325 62311 / Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) was #1 in Inspections with 151 62211 / General
