We have recently heard the phrase “inherent safety” used by OSHA and EPA as both agencies work at revising/updating their process safety standards. But what exactly is “inherent safety,” and why is it at the top of the Hierarchy of Controls for process safety? Inherently safer practices are an approach to designing safer chemical plants, […]
A manufacturing company that works with dangerous chemicals faces $192,620 in fines for 46 serious and 17 general safety and health violations. The facility formulates products for agricultural fertilizer, airports, pulp and paper, and water treatment. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) inspectors found 13 violations relating to confined space entry rules due
If you have ever taught a LOTO course, you know that you will always get the questions… “Is ___ psi a hazardous energy source?”. Regardless of the gas’s inherent hazard(s), we should always answer by saying “Zero = Zero,” and in LOTO, we are required to achieve a zero energy state. So, any psi of
Pay close attention to the break in the smoke plumes on the right hand side of the screen… Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final investigative report into a massive fire and explosions at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) Refinery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that occurred in June 2019. The
Respondent owns and operates an ice manufacturing facility that typically operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On June 26, 2019, EPA performed an inspection of the Facility pursuant to Section 112(r) of the CAA, Sections 304-312 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (“EPCRA”), and Section 103 of the Comprehensive Environmental
Many organizations have become very good at identifying the ACTIVE failures associated with an accident; however, in almost all of the accident investigations I have been involved with, I find LATENT failures to play a bigger role than active failures. But that is a really hard pill for most organizations to swallow. But there is
A North Carolina Administrative Law Judge found that railcars on a “siding” are a “stationary source,” as such, if they contain an EHS over the RMP threshold, they fall under EPA’s Risk Management Plan. This is in line with EPA’s recently proposed changes wanting to apply a 48-hour time frame to the term “storage, not
OSHA received notification of a construction site fatality on August 5, 2004 – day following the incident Reported that the employee was found at the bottom of a manhole New sewer system under construction – SIC Code 1623
I am sharing this because OSHA is in the process of adopting Rev. 7 for their new HAZCOM standard, and if they do it, it will change the PSM application to some Category 1 Flammable Gases.
EPA Region 1 RMP presentation. It has a lot about Ammonia refrigeration and some other EPA rules. The presentation has a lot of actual pictures of violations.
A worker performing maintenance inside a cement mixer at a concrete manufacturing company narrowly escaped fatal injuries when a co-worker turned the machine on. An OSHA investigation determined that the company’s failure to comply with federal workplace safety standards nearly cost the worker their life. OSHA learned management knew that federal law required the company
