Safety Info Posts

EPA RMP citations @ food facility (NH3 & $33K)

Respondent is the owner and/or operator of the Facility, which is a “stationary source” and has registered an RMPlan with the EPA for its Facility and has developed an RMProgram accidental release prevention program for the Facility. At its Facility:(a) Respondent operates an ammonia refrigeration plant.(b) At all times relevant to the violations alleged, Respondent…...

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EPA RMP citations @ food facility (NH3 & $160K)

At all times relevant to this CAFO, Respondent operated a facility that utilizes anhydrous ammonia to produce approximately one-quarter billion frozen burritos for distribution nationwide each year. On July 20, 2022, EPA performed an inspection of the Facility to evaluate compliance with the CERCLA Section 103, EPCRA Sections 304-312, and CAA Section 112(r). Based upon…...

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It ALL starts here for management… ANSI/ASSE Z590.2-2003

Yes, this is a very OLD standard, but there is really nothing to replace it, as it still holds true today as much as it did in 2003. I have discussed this standard several times, and I ALWAYS share it with clients who are a tad lost on what the role of their safety professional(s)…...

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3 executives receive 2-years in prison for the death of a worker in a 2019 fire; two of those being prosecuted were “risk prevention technicians”

SAFTENG NOTE 1: Two (2) of those being prosecuted were risk prevention technicians; one was a company employee, and one was a contractor SAFTENG NOTE 2: This silo explosion is very similar to the recent silo explosion in ME that took the life of a Firefighter Three (3) executives from an industrial wood processing and…...

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Is a Tanker Truck a “shipped container” under OSHA’s GHS/HAZCOM?

If we look closely at this ISO container, specifically between the two (2) placards, we will see a laminated GHS label with the product identifier, pictogram(s), signal word, manufacturer’s name, and phone number. But is that middle label required on this ISO container?… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership...

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If my flammable liquid storage tanks are equalized together, must my secondary containment account for this?

When flammable liquid tanks are equalized — meaning they are interconnected by piping that allows fluid levels to equalize between them — we MUST account for this in our secondary containment design. From a regulatory and engineering standpoint, the governing principle is to protect against the worst-case single-event release. If tanks are interconnected, a failure…...

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Documenting successful visual inspection(s) of piping welds

Now that we have laid out the code requirements for conducting the visual inspection of pipe welds, let’s discuss how this must be documented…. Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

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What should a welding QA program include for those visually inspecting the welds?

ASME Section V, Article 9 places the responsibility for the designation and qualification of these individuals on the organization (the employer or manufacturer). The organization is responsible for assigning “qualified personnel” to perform visual examinations. ASME Section V requires that personnel be qualified and certified in accordance with a program established by their employer. The…...

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Peeling the onion on Visual Examination of Welds

The next layer of the onion to unpack is the specific requirements for performing “Visual Examinations”. This is all part of the installer’s Quality Assurance program. We are getting deep into the weeds as we “peel this onion”, but these are CRITICAL needs to ensure our pipe is erected properly per the ASME B31 code(s)…....

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Where does ASME B31.3 specifically require a Hydrostatic Relief Valve (HRV)

Unfortunately, the code is not as clear as I would like, and I do get a lot of pushback when I encounter high-expansion fluids in hazardous-materials piping. I deal with a lot of liquids that are Highly Toxic, Flammable, and some that are both, which also have a high coefficient of expansion. So, in this…...

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Wrong Chemical – Wrong Tank (Cl2)

A chemical gas leak at a Water Plant resulted in three people being transported to the hospital. The leak was a result of a chemical reaction of the chemical “alum” being mistakenly added to two tanks of bleach, creating chlorine gas. At around 2 p.m., the Portage County Hazardous Materials Team responded to an incident…...

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Fail-Safe Engineered System?

Under certain conditions, the IFC allows “Fail-Safe Engineered Systems” in lieu of “emergency backup power” for safety-critical systems such as ventilation, treatment, or temperature control systems. The code states: 5004.7.2 Fail-safe engineered systems. Standby power for mechanical ventilation, treatment systems and temperature control systems shall not be required where an approved fail-safe engineered system is…...

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