2015 Photo of the Week #29 (Team Work gone bad)
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2015 Video of the Week #29 (Filling Tires Hazard)
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The effect of wearer stubble on the protection given by Filtering Facepieces Class 3 (FFP3) and Half Masks (UK’s HSE RR1052)
Ever wonder about that 5 o’clock shadow and the impact it may have on a respirator face-to-mask seal? How about 2-3 days growth… what is that impact on respiratory protection safety? Well now we have a much better idea! The UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) did a small study to find out just how…...
53 incidents & 0 updates (7/20/15)
I am back from my summer family vacation and this catches us up on our accidents since 7/10/15. Over 12,500 exclusive unsafe acts/conditions and accident/injuries photos and over 1,100 ppt’s & doc’s from more than 2,797 contributors! Many THANKS to my NEW and RENEWING “Partners in Safety“ 2015 Fatality Tracker Electrical 25 (2014…...
EPA RMP citations @ semiconductor wafer manufacturer (HCL Tube Trailers & $72K with SEP of $340K)
Respondent operates a silicon wafer manufacturing facility. Respondent has a HCL tube trailer and gas supply system process at the stationary source and has exceeded the threshold quantity for Hydrogen Chloride (anhydrous) [Hydrochloric Acid] at the HCL tube trailer and gas su11ply system. The covered process is subject to the Program 3 requirements of the…...
OSHA issues “Inspection Procedures for the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2012)”
The Hazard Communication standard (HCS) has been revised to align with the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS Revision 3, 2009). This includes updates to the requirements for labeling and for safety data sheets (SDSs). This instruction outlines the revisions to the HCS, such as the revised hazard classification…...
EPA RMP General Duty Clause citation @ refinery (Flammables; $30K – Line Break)
Facility a petroleum refinery where regulated Substances and other extremely hazardous substances are produced, processed, stored, and handled, and from which an accidental release could occur. On July 23, 2014, a fire occurred at the control valve station on Pass #3 to Vacuum Tower Heater H-1-1601 while facility operators were isolating flow control valve 02FC23…...
OSHA PSM citations @ refrigeration warehousing company (NH3 & $116K, One Willful)
A refrigeration warehousing company, which refrigerates various food products and citrus extract/oils and employs approximately 200 workers was cited for 13 safety violations, including one willful violation, for failing to follow the industry recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices for insulation removal and for failing to test the ammonia refrigeration system piping and pressure…...
Mental biases that drive unsafe decision making
Workers look for familiar patterns and apply well-tried solutions to a problem. There is the temptation to settle for satisfactory solutions rather than continue seeking a better solutions. The mental biases, or shortcuts, often used to reduce mental effort and expedite decision-making include:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership...
Whats OSHA been up to for the past month? (6/10/15 to 7/10/15)
Back by popular request… Coverage: National Period: 30 days, 6/10/15 to 7/10/15 New Inspections: Opened in the last 30 days = 4,553 Closed Inspections: Closed in the last 30 days = 4,319 Ongoing Inspections: Opened prior to 30 day reporting period and still not closed = 118,209 Inspections with Violations = 150 Inspections with no…...
Our contractors and their “subs”
A recent fatality at an ammonia refrigeration process in Canada points to a potential weakness in “contractor safety” at facilities with active process safety management systems in place. PSM/RMP facilities regularly get “safety information and data” from their contractors; this information is usually the contractor’s OSHA injury/illness rates, experience modification rate, etc. But many PSM/RMP…...
Proposed Regulatory Changes to Improve Oil Refinery Safety (CalEPA)
A fire at the Chevron refinery in Richmond in August 2012 raised public concern about refinery safety and emergency response in California. Following a directive from the Governor’s February 2014 report on “Improving Public and Worker Safety at Oil Refineries,” CalEPA formed the Interagency Refinery Task Force (IRTF). The IRTF membership includes ten state agencies,…...