Safety Info Posts

Quite Possibly the best ASME B31.3 Cheat Sheet for Anhydrous Ammonia (MN-Dept of Ag)

9/2020 UPDATE:  I have contacted the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Pesticide & Fertilizer Management Division regarding a statement on this 2-page “Cheat Sheet” regarding their apparent requirement that Hydrosrtatic RVs be put on NH3 vapor piping and vapor hoses.  This is how it is presented: Hydrostats must be installed in each section of liquid and…...

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OSHA further clarifies in-plant labeling vs. “shipped containers” labeling under the GHS (1910.1200(f)(1) 1910.1200(f)(6) 1910.1200(f)(7)

Background: Your company has an internal communication method to communicate the identity of hazardous chemicals transported on company vehicles from one location to another location within the same building (intra-plant). This method uses words, pictures, and/or product identification number, NFPA, HMIS, or DOT identifiers. The company also uses this communication method when transporting hazardous chemicals…...

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Purged and Pressurized Enclosure Protection Techniques in HAZLOCs

With OSHA’s Process Safety Management standard coming up on its 27th birthday, we are seeing companies still grappling with managing their Hazardous Locations (HAZLOC). When the process involves a flammable liquid or gas, it is still fairly common to find a HAZLOC containing permanently installed equipment that is not rated for the HAZLOC. And by…...

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OSHA’s Welding, Cutting, and Heating in Confined Spaces Enforcement Memo

February 6, 2019 MEMORANDUM FOR:   REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS                                        STATE PLAN DESIGNEESTHROUGH:                     KURT A. PETERMEYER                             …...

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Draining/Venting an HHC/EHS from a process

The act of draining/venting a highly hazardous chemical (HHC)/extremely hazardous substance (EHS) from a process can be one of the most hazardous tasks a worker can undertake, but there are some easy and cheap actions/designs we can consider to reduce these hazards.  Some of the best guidance I have come across is the IIAR’s “Oil…...

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Another example of “Start-Up After Turnaround/Shutdown”

Recently I had the pleasure of working with a client on a PHA project during which we came across another excellent example of how “start-up’s” can be very different from the “normal start-up” procedure. I like to bring these examples to our attention as we still hear this all the time… “our initial start-up/normal start-up/start-up…...

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OSHRC defines PSM Battery Limits (Boiler Explosion @ Refinery)

The decision by the OSHRC settles several KEY PSM application debates.  The accident involved a boiler that provided steam to a covered process and the boiler also used fuel from the refinery process(s) so OSHA took the position the boiler was part of the “covered process” because it was both interconnected and co-located such that…...

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Line Break Gone Bad (Hot Water)

This incident is one I call attention to as it involved a lack of LOTO during removal of a valve on a hot water system.  OSHA issued a Willful citation because the work was done without having an energy isolation control panel/task specific LOTO procedures.  The work was done from an aerial lift without LOTO…...

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Ever seen an “unemployable bollard”?

Many of you have heard me joke about bollards being “lazy bollards” when they’re just bolted down to the concrete or worse into asphalt. We call them “lazy bollards” because they don’t work. Get it? Well, I have discovered a new low for bollard design!!! I call this the “unemployable bollard”!!! I kid you not,…...

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Ruptured refrigeration evaporator releases ammonia resulting in extensive area evacuation

After unscheduled maintenance to drain oil from the pumps, the refrigeration system was noted to be slow to return to performance and oil contamination of some system evaporators was suspected. The responding refrigeration mechanic stated he attempted to improve system performance by closing valves to generate pressure within an evaporator to move or dislodge potentially…...

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SAFETY INTEGRITY LEVEL (SIL)

As barriers or safety systems can fail, it is essential to design them well and understand their reliability, which is expressed in an SIL rating. The Safety Integrity Level relates to the Probability of Failure on Demand (PFD). We use complete orders of 10 to describe the reduction factor:… Membership Required You must be a...

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