One of the worst injury accidents of my career occurred in a PSM/RMP-covered process but involved a non-HHC/EHS. The chemical was “hot caustic,” a byproduct from the process used in another process’s scrubber. A sister facility had an incident in which it was discovered that the caustic was too weak. Thus in a process upset,…...
SAMPLING a LIVE process Read More »
Five (5) workers died after inhaling suspected poisonous gas emanating from a tank at a food factory in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district. The incident happened in the Sakshi Food Products factory. Gas began emanating from a tank at the factory that makes food products around 11 am, and two (2) workers entered it to investigate…....
PRCS incident kills 5; 2 entrants and 3 would be rescuers (HAZ ATM) Read More »
We are seeing more and more of this type of set-up, where an auxiliary piece of equipment on an assembly/production line has two (2) electrical supplies. One is from the main SWITCH on the line, and one is from a separate source. This is usually done when the auxiliary equipment may need to stay energized…...
LOTO, “Energy From More Than One Source”, and critical labeling Read More »
Most facilities will have a few pieces of equipment that require using a dozen or more energy isolation devices to achieve a full LO’ed situation. Most businesses, at least early on in their implementation of LOTO for these pieces of equipment, will state ALL energy isolation devices will be utilized regardless of the scope of…...
In a mature LOTO program, “SCOPE of WORK” matters Read More »
1101.1 Scope. This chapter shall govern the design, installation, construction, and repair of refrigeration systems. Permanently installed refrigerant storage systems and other components shall be considered as part of the refrigeration system to which they are attached. 1101.1.1 Refrigerants other than ammonia. Refrigeration systems using a refrigerant other than ammonia shall comply with this chapter,…...
Have you ever seen a setup on a machine, typically those manufactured outside of the USA, with two (2) electrical disconnects? Most of the time, these disconnects are COLOR-CODED to clearly identify their different uses, although we have seen some that were NOT color-coded, nor were they properly labeled! Here is an example of what…...
Motor disconnect vs. Main disconnect Read More »
Whenever we talk about OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) standard, we almost always have to talk about its machine guarding and electrical standards. One crucial requirement in OSHA’s electrical standards, as it relates directly back to LOTO, is … (emphasis by me)… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member?...
How electrical standards play a role in LOTO practices Read More »
Guidelines for Preparedness and Initial Response to a Pipeline Release of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) This field operations guide is not an educational or decision-making tool. This guide contains a set of operational tools and references to assist in the response to a pipeline release of carbon dioxide (CO2). The priorities for CO2 response are:… Membership...
API releases their Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emergency Response Tactical Guidance Document Read More »
An inside look at what OSHA proposes in their Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Program (HIIPP). This is from the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel. This document is meant to outline potential options for the various elements of a proposed rule. OSHA envisions a programmatic standard that could require employers to create…...
I know by the poll results and the emails/texts/calls I have received these past 2-3 weeks that this post will be met with a healthy dose of skepticism, but that has never stopped me from saying what I believe when it comes to the safety and health of those we have the privilege to protect. …...
Is shorter better? (Part II – PRCS Program) Read More »
I came across these helpful tips for our Safe Work Permitting System. I hope it can help others…… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Key principles in permit to work systems (UK’s HSE) Read More »
Today, my “friend in safety” and I continued our debate/discussion regarding the “proper” length of written programs. He staunchly believes that a shorter program will attract more eyes and get used more often. On the other hand, I have programs that are over 50 pages, which blows his mind. He brought a few samples of his…...
Is shorter better? Read More »
