OSHA regulatory activities on 7/1/25
OSHA announced changes to the following standards:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
How can I tell if a facility is doing their SCBA inspections “by the book” each month?
A trick question I learned long ago, when it was used on me, is one I use today when auditing a facility that has SCBAs for “Emergency Use Only” (e.g., an ERT). As we are walking to the ERT cage/trucks, I casually ask if the facility fills its bottles/cylinders or if they have a breathing…...
IDLH Value Profile: Hydrogen Bromide CAS® No. 10035-10-6
This technical report presents the scientific basis, toxicologic data, and risk assessment methodology used to derive a health-based immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) value for hydrogen bromide (CAS No. 10035-10-6). The IDLH values are based on the scientific rationale and logic outlined in Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) 66: Derivation of Immediately Dangerous to…...
OSHA renews NEP to address amputations in manufacturing
OSHA has renewed its National Emphasis Program on Amputations in Manufacturing Industries, focused on preventing amputations in manufacturing workplaces. Under the renewed program, which aims to identify and mitigate hazards that could lead to amputations and other injuries in the manufacturing sector, OSHA will conduct inspections of manufacturing facilities to ensure compliance with safety practices…...
Is anyone surprised? Who thinks this is a “driver error”?
This footage would be great to use in a management setting to discuss failures in our safety process. My plant managers (all four of them) would immediately make the snarky comment about not having a “bullseye” painted on the bucket. It was simply a matter of time!!! I/m betting this “practice” was “routine” (Reason’s HF…...
BLEVE in Sidney, MT on 6/25/2025
A picture-perfect BLEVE caught on drone cam. A storm chaser captured this fire and BLEVE while traveling to chase a storm in Canada. This was in Sidney, MT, and may be the best training video showing a BLEVE (he has even slowed the footage down so we can see it in slow motion)…. Membership Required...
Why NH3 must be evacuated to “reclassify” a Condenser from a PRCS to a NON-PRCS
I have debated this many times and finally just gave up on the industry to do the right thing. And yes, there is a line item in NFPA 350, that I have requested the NFPA to address. But for me, in all my years, we would evacuate the NH3 from the condenser coils and lock…...
PSV inlet pipe failure (6# NH3 release inside Machinery Room)
A piping fitting failed, resulting in the release of approximately 5 pounds of ammonia (NH3) in the machinery room. The nipple (fitting) between the oil separator and its relief valve cracked and failed to hold ammonia in the piping, resulting in the activation of the exhaust ventilation system. Fittings made of certain materials are incompatible…...
Another “Torque Matters” event (16-pound NH3 Release from Oil Separator)
In an ammonia refrigeration system, ammonia in a gas state is compressed from the compressor to high-pressure, high-temperature ammonia gas. The compressed gas heats as its pressurised. The hot gas enters an oil separator, where the ammonia gas and compressor oil is separated so that oil is not carried over with the ammonia gas to…...
OSHA issues GDC citation for “hose attached to PRD discharge” ($9K)
This is becoming more common these days; I never encountered it in my career at any of my facilities, as it’s not just a matter of sound engineering. The response I usually get during audits, PHAs, Engineering Code Design reviews is… “show me in the code that says I can’t use a hose on the…...
OSHA getting better educated on the Combustible Dust Process Hazards
Last month, Federal OSHA issued a three (3) part GDC citation for a Polishing and Sanding Area’s combustible dust system. Specifically OSHA took issue with the Design and Operation of the Combustible Dust Collection system:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
What does AI say about too high of QNFT results?
I have written several articles on Fit test Records with QNFT results, exceeding 10,000. I have seen number as high as 500,000. And to be honest I’m not sure why the makers of the QNFT machines even have the ability to record numbers over 10,000, as most of these manufacturers will state anything over 10,000…...