Safety Info Posts

If you are a regular visitor to this site, you know I love to use the International Fire Code, which many states adopt in full or in some “revised” langauge as their “state fire/hazmat code”.  One particular item that garners a lot of questions and comments is the IFC’s requirement that ALL hazardous materials (those…...

On May 11, 2023, @ 8:04 a.m., an employee working for an oil and gas support services company was found dead. On May 10th, the night before, the employee had instructed his coworkers from other contractors to go home, and he would finish the job. This was the last time anyone had spoken to the…...

This fatal incident displays the CRITICAL role of having procedures for responding to leaks, even “small releases.”  1910.119(n) Emergency planning and response The employer shall establish and implement an emergency action plan for the entire plant in accordance with the provisions of 29 CFR 1910.38. In addition, the emergency action plan shall include procedures for…...

Having spent my entire career in Flame Retardant Clothing, I learned that improper laundering could render the PPE useless, maybe even hazardous to wear.  In my time, we always had a contractor launder and maintain our FRC.  It was not cheap, but it was necessary to ensure the PPE worked as intended when we needed…...

To simplify this, the Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP) is the maximum pressure at which the hose can operate routinely.  Although, I strongly suggest the “operating ranges” be far less than the MAWP.  However, achieving the MAWP does NOT mean the hose will necessarily fail.  Where the hose will fail is called the “Burst Pressure.” …...