A total of seven people were taken to the hospital after a chlorine gas leak was reported. The cause of the leak was a truck driver who delivered a chemical to a Water Plant and “unintentionally mixed two chemical compounds in a holding tank.” This then released the chlorine gas “from the tank vent.” The…...
Wrong Chemical – Wrong Tank (Cl2) Read More »
Interesting facts about this event: On October 10, 2024, at 4:23 p.m., approximately 27,000 pounds of hydrogen sulfide gas were released during maintenance at the Refinery in Deer Park, Texas. The release fatally injured two (2) contract workers. Background Information The facility is a petroleum refinery located in Deer Park, Texas and is a Limited…...
CSB Update on Fatal H2S Release @ TX Refinery Read More »
This United States Coast Guard alert supports my expectation that we must demarcate our HAZLOCs. I usually get pushback as the code does not explicitly require the boundaries of our HAZLOCs to be marked in any way. But in reality, if we want workers to respect the hazards of working inside a HAZLOC, then we…...
IMPORTANCE OF HAZARDOUS ZONE MARKINGS AND SAFETY PROTOCOL AWARENESS (USCG) Read More »
A recent marine casualty, resulting in a fire and severe injuries to two crewmembers, highlights the risks associated with:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
For decades, businesses have used the TSI Porta-Count QNFT method to fit test tight-fitting respirators. Today, new variations of this NIOSH-approved method (e.g., Condensation Nuclei Counter(CNC) are faster, and we have seen many organizations adopt these new methods. However, changing our Fit-Testing method may require an MOC. I say “may” as not all PSM processes…...
Changing our fit-test methods requires an MOC Read More »
NIOSH research tells us: Source: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/pdfs/Fit-test-10.508_FNL-508.pdf… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Respirator Fit-Testing Facts (NIOSH) Read More »
Imagine the purchasing manager announcing at a staff meeting that the business is changing the supplier for one of your PSM/RMP-covered chemicals. There is nothing special about this chemical; it is a 100% pure solution/gas, so you think nothing is changing. But this chemical has come under a lot of questions by yours truly, and…...
Does changing a chemical supplier require an MOC Read More »
It is great when I can convince an organization to pressure test and leak test its process piping. However, if this task is not done according to the book, we may have created a serious hazard. Two (2) safety-critical devices are often overlooked during pressure and leak testing, and missing either one or both can…...
2 safety-critical devices in pressure testing our piping Read More »
Initial findings in an employee’s death show breathing air was compromised while working in a paint booth after the breathing air system unintentionally allowed nitrogen to get into the system. The worker, 61, was found not breathing just after noon on Feb. 24 in a paint booth. This incident occurred in the same area where…...
Nitrogen in the breathing air system Read More »
This is why we MUST have a Quality Assurance process in our piping installations when welding joins the pipe. The same applies to the construction process vessels; however, most of those are “shop-built,” and we are outside the scope of those vessels. But a “field-erected” vessel would fall into our sphere of control…. Membership Required...
When Welding goes Wrong Read More »
One of the top questions I get in my process safety circles is… Do we have to pressure test/leak test piping that has been opened/modified before we re-introduce the HHC/EHS to the piping? I turn to one of my favorite sources for RAGAGEPs, NFPA, and one of the best NFPA codes is NFPA 58, which…...
“Leak Checking” new and modified piping Read More »
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) marked the 20th anniversary of the fatal explosions and fires at BP America Texas City Refinery in Texas City, TX, that occurred on March 23, 2005. The tragic incident resulted in the deaths of 15 people and injuries to 180 others. To remember this deadly event,…...
CSB marks the 20th anniversary of the BP Texas City Refinery Read More »
