Safety Info Posts

Playing “Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third” – with EPA’s R-134a refrigerant replacement (HFO-1234yf)

I may have been quick to “pat myself on my back” last week with my post titled “It took two (2) years, but HFO-1234yf is now a NFPA Flammable “4”, as this morning I learned from another client dealing with this refrigerant that their manufacturer also updated their SDS and guess what… that manufacturer went…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Is your car a traveling PSM covered process?

I have joked about this topic in other posts, as we have been battling the idea that our new refrigerant for vehicle air conditioners is a Category 1 Flammable Gas.  This conversion from R-134a has been a bumpy one, but in jest, I share with you EPA’s “use conditions,” and for an agency that certainly…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Did you see the “tagout” in CSB’s latest Bulletin

The US Chemical Safety Board’s (CSB) most recent Safety Bulletin: Key Lessons from the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Refinery Isobutane Release and Fire was once again a great piece of work by the agency.  But as with most incidents, other underlying issues may have contributed (or not) to the incident.  In this bulletin, I could not help but notice…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Did the OSHRC just say that 1910.147 Appendix A without any revisions is an acceptable “machine specific” LOTO procedure?

The OSHRC sided with the company that used Appendix A from 1910.147 as their machine-specific LOTO procedure.  They did so without any revisions to the content of the Appendix, and the OSHRC found this as an acceptable machine-specific LOTO procedure!   … Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

OSHRC gets it wrong on 1910.1469(k) Rescue Plans

This case involved an industrial laundry company which uses continuous batch washers (CBW) which were correctly defined as a Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS). During an OSHA inspection, the Compliance Officer (CO) took issue with the facility’s rescue plan from a CBW. After reading this case, I too took issue with their rescue plan; however, since…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

OSHRC confirms that EXPIRED “calibration gas” for calibrating atmospheric testing equipment is a violation

This OSHRC case involved laundry company who uses industrial sized washing machines which are correctly classified as a Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS).  OSHA inspected the facility, and the CSHO discovered that the calibration gas used to calibrate the direct reading meter that would be used for testing the atmosphere inside the continuous batch washers (CBW) has expired 18…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

Did the OSHRC just say that blanking/blinding, disconnect/misalignment, or a DB&B is not required for PRCS isolation?

I often review the OSHRC decisions to learn better the “legal” side of OSHA compliance and most of the time I find that the Review Commission is pretty much a straight shooter when it comes to applying OSHA standards. But there are times when I close my computer as if I just saw a ghost…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

OSHA’s 2017 Top 10

At this year’s NSC Congress OSHA announced their 2017 Top 10 Violations.  They have not updated their Data Page yet, but here are their preliminary…… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here

EPA RMP citations @ ammonia manufacturer (NH3, 11,000 pound release & $25K w/ $200K SEP)

Respondent is primarily engaged in the production of anhydrous ammonia, urea fertilizer, and urea ammonium nitrate, which includes two ammonia units (A1 and A2), a urea production unit, a UAN unit, and various ancillary units, including a carbon dioxide pipeline compressor station and a hydrogen recovery unit. Respondent produces, processes, stores, or handles more than…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
Scroll to Top