To quote the IFC committee, “the purpose of performance-based design criteria is to promote innovative, flexible and responsive solutions that optimize the expenditure and consumption of resources while preserving social and economic value.” Section 5001.3 Performance-based design alternative is intended to be compatible with EPA’s RMP and OSHA’s PSM requirements, so it would reduce the burden […]
You may have heard that low melting-point materials such as aluminum, copper or brass should not be used for flammable liquids and gases. This is due to the concern these materials may fail under fire conditions, so we have some minimum requirements to meet IF we choose to use these types of metals…
Respondent operates a dairy plant and has on-site, 13,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia which is used in its ammonia refrigeration process. Respondent submitted a single RMPlan that included an accidental release prevention program, to the EPA for its stationary source. At its stationary source, the Respondent has one RMProgram level 3 covered process. On January
If you follow the CSB investigations, you may remember an incident from years ago where a fire impacted a pipe rack and the supports that were treated for fire resistance withstood the fire and the ones not treated/protected failed, causing the collapse of the structure leading to a much larger fire which then impaled three
We visit this topic again and again, the short answer is NO! According to ASME Section VIII, Division 1 (UG-135) and API RP 520, Pressure Safety Valves (PSVs) must be installed in a vertical position with the spindle (stem) oriented upright. Installing a valve horizontally is considered a significant deviation from engineering standards and can
In the International Fire Code, Section 606 – Mechanical Refrigeration has two distinct requirements regarding the refrigerant detector(s) and their alarm signal and in both requirements, the phrase “approved location” is used. In one case, they are talking about the location of the actual refrigerant detector/sensor, and in the other case, they are talking about
Respondent operates ammonia storage and transfer process which contains 840,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia for storage and transfer. Respondent has one RMProgram level 2 covered process. On March 3, 2016, the EPA conducted an onsite inspection of the RMProgram related records and equipment to assess the Respondent’s compliance with the RMProgram requirements and the implemented
On May 25, 2016, I was sitting on and repairing an industrial conveyor belt. Suddenly, the conveyor belt started up, and I went on a ride that changed my life forever. I spent 16 days in the hospital, where doctors focused on placing a rod and screws into my left arm (the rod and screws
CORRECTION Made 3/21/2018 So I was glad I was sitting down when I started reading the Public Review #2 Draft of IIAR-6, Standard for Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems. Now it’s just a DRAFT version out for public review and comments, but I was so pleased to see TABLE 13.1, Overpressure Protection
Between November 20 and December 31, 2017, WorkSafeBC officers conducted the first phase of a three-phase ammonia inspection initiative. Officers inspected ice rinks and recreational facilities that use ammonia as a refrigerant. The focus of the inspections was: risk assessment, exposure control plans, work procedures, emergency response and evacuation plans Of the 223 sites inspected,
It is the year 2018 – OSHA promulgated its Control of Hazardous Energy standard (1910.147) in 1989. That means we should have been practicing LOTO for nearly 29 years, and yet we continue to see unreal failures related to workers performing servicing and maintenance without “locking it out.” This week’s Incident Alerts contained an incident
