Results of OSHA’s look back review of the LOTO standard docket S-012-B
This report presents the results of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) “Lookback” review of the Agency’s Control of Hazardous Energy Sources standard, also known as the Lockout/Tagout standard. The standard, which is codified in OSHA’s general industry standards at 29 CFR 1910.14 7, establishes requirements employers must follow to disable machinery and equipment
Cellular Phones and Other Risks in Classified Areas
This National Safety Alert provides an update to National Safety Alert No. 5, Cell Phone Results in Fire, dated March 6, 2002, which addressed a flash fire on a platform in the Gulf of Mexico OCS. As detailed in National Safety Alert No. 5, a contract panel specialist was working on an open platform master
Investigation of the Potential for Wireless Phones to Cause Explosions at Gas Stations
In early 1999, a number of reports were circulated in the news media and on the Internet suggesting that cell phones could cause a fire or explosion if used at gas stations. Although the reports were speculative and unconfirmed, the issue gained impetus when warning labels began to appear at service stations. In response to
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Business Impact Analysis on OAC Chapter 3745-104, “Accidental Releases Prevention Program” (RMP)
The State of Ohio’s EPA performed “Business Impact Analysis” on their version of the Risk Management Plan, as part of an Ohio requirement. The Ohio EPA RMP rules, which are consistent with federal requirements, became effective August 13, 1999. Ohio EPA received “Delegation of Authority” for the Accidental Release Prevention Program, or Risk Management Plan (RMP) program, effective
Federal EPA considering a “new fee” for facilities under the RMP and SPCC rules
For those of us who live and work in states that have Risk Management Plan enforcement delegation (like Ohio), Risk Management Plan “fees” are nothing new. But now, Federal EPA is considering charging a “Fee” for those facilities that submit an RMP AND are under federal EPA RMP enforcement. There is no mention if this
EPA RMP citations @ agricultural chemical manufacturing facility (CH4S, C3H9N, C2H7N, NH3 & $72K )
Respondent owns and operates an agricultural chemical manufacturing facility. On or about August 18-19, 2015, EPA conducted an inspection of Respondent’s Facility to determine compliance with Section 112(r) of the CAA and 40 C.F.R. Part 68. Information gathered during the EPA inspection revealed that Respondent had greater than 10,000 pounds of methyl mercaptan in a
EPA RMP citations @ fertilizer distributor (NH3 & $137K)
Respondent Ag’s facility includes bulk ammonia storage operations. On or about September 11, 2013, EPA inspected the facility to determine compliance with Section 112(r) of the CAA, 42 U.S.C. § 7412(r), and 40 C.F.R. Part 68. At the time of the September 2013 inspection, Respondent had greater than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia stored in
FM Global’s NEW Data Sheet shares Loss Histories related to Ammonia Refrigeration Processes
FM Global, my absolute favorite source of RELIABLE and FREE safety information has published a new Data Sheet titled 7-13 Mechanical Refrigeration. This data sheet and hundreds more are available for FREE (after a very brief registration) to anyone. A truly MUST have for any safety professional working in an industrial environment! In their new Data Sheet, 7-13 Mechanical
Ohio’s new Mechanical Refrigeration Code (based on IFC 2015)
In December 2017, the state of Ohio adopted it’s new “Fire Code” which happens to be a revised version of the 2015 International Fire Code. In November I posted a “heads-up” article about the “proposed” changes to new AMMONIA REFRIGERATION processes built in Ohio after 12/15/2017 and how their relief system(s) will be allowed to
Ammonia release study from INERIS
The French National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks (INERIS) conducted a study to examine how anhydrous ammonia would behave under a number of different release sceanrios. The main aims of this study were: to analyse the risks represented by facilities using quantities of ammonia of up to a few dozen tonnes to complete knowledge on the