Safety Info Posts – Page 588 – Safety Engineering (SAFTENG)

OSHA cites a chicken processing and wholesale distribution company with REPEAT and SERIOUS PSM violations (NH3 Refrigeration)

December 12, 2012 / PSM and RMP Citations/Analysis / Bryan Haywood

OSHA has cited the company with three repeat and four serious violations following a June inspection as part of the agency’s Process Safety Management Covered Chemical Facilities national emphasis program (NEP). Proposed penalties total $99,000. The repeat citations issued for the process safety management standard violations include failing to inspect and test process equipment consistent […]

Electrical Panel Clearance and NEW NEC requirements

December 12, 2012 / OSHA Compliance / Bryan Haywood

Most everyone knows that electrical panels must be kept clear at all times and last year I wrote an article explaining the “why’s” of this clearance requirement. Well now, NFPA is driving home the importance of these clearance requirements with a REVISION to the NEC, Sections 110.26(A) and 110.32. These PROPOSED revisions would more clearly define the

Can I count the activation of my safety system as an actual test of the system?

December 12, 2012 / Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP) / Bryan Haywood

My hi level interlock just tripped on my vessel – can I count this trip as the scheduled quarterly/annual PM test? This question is maybe in the top 10 questions we get from PSM/RMP clients and friends and without a doubt one of the top 5 MI questions of all time. There is no argument

UPDATE: CCTV video of the Mexico Refinery Explosion on 9/19/12

December 11, 2012 / Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP) / Bryan Haywood

12/13/12 – I uploaded the full video (1:45) to my YOUTUBE account rather than the members’ area. This full version includes a 2nd view from a different camera and shows the full impact and size of the explosion and the tank fires resulting from the blast. WARNING! This video will be UPSETTING to many, especially the

2012 Video of the Week #49 – Is “self reflection” a legitimate approach to unsafe acts? (Video)

December 11, 2012 / Video of the Week / Bryan Haywood

A retired safety professional I am a friend with on Facebook shared this video with me and it made me think (as most safety pro’s will)… would this approach work in stopping unsafe acts? I think it will, but what do you think? How can we go about utilizing this approach, I call “self reflection”.

What is the fit factor? (Respirators)

December 11, 2012 / Respiratory Protection / Bryan Haywood

OSHA’s “official” definition is… Fit factor: A quantitative estimate of the fit of a particular respirator to a specific individual and typically estimates the ratio of the concentration of a substance in ambient air to its concentration inside the respirator when worn.

Jordan Barab of OSHA speaks at the COSH conference (“cutting corners on on safety and health will not be tolerated”

December 11, 2012 / OSHA Compliance / Bryan Haywood

Jordan Barab, Deputy Assistant Secretary of OSHA, gives an OSHA UPDATE at the COSH conference. He covers OSHA compliance efforts to improving the integrity of the VPP effort. A nice update on what OSHA has been doing and the direction they are going.

IBC and Hazardous Gas Detection System(s)

December 10, 2012 / Hazardous Materials / Bryan Haywood

Gas detection systems are required to detect leaks in many uses and hazardous operations as regulated by BOTH the IBC and IFC. Gas detection systems are required in:

Safety Alert – Electrician received an electric shock when working on junction box

December 10, 2012 / Safety Alerts / Bryan Haywood

An Electrician and an Apprentice were making 3-phase, 415-Volt connections on a junction box. The electrician received an electric shock when the back of his hand brushed a “live” conductor. It was later discovered that the wrong isolations had been applied for the task. The conductors had been tested and confirmed as “de-energised” prior to

32 incidents & 0 updates (12/9/12)

December 10, 2012 / Incident Alerts (2011 - 2018) / Bryan Haywood

Many THANKS to my newest and RENEWING Corporate Partners in Safety… since 2007 since 2012 since 2012 since 2012 2012 Fatality Tracker Electrical 67 (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment 52 (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining 68 (2011 = 248) (2010 =

PA DEP requiring AEDs at Mine sites

December 9, 2012 / General Safety Topics / Bryan Haywood

The PA Department of Environmental Protection has announced that underground coal mines will soon be required to install automated external defibrillators on the surface near the mine entry and underground in each working mine section. The requirement comes as part of a regulatory rulemaking that will appear in the Dec. 8 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin and take effect March 8, 2013.

Update on Cl2 release @ Poultry Plant

December 9, 2012 / Hazardous Materials / Bryan Haywood

The Centers for Disease Control released a report today saying that a Tyson poultry plant worker who poured a solution into a 55-gallon drum, releasing chlorine gas, could not read the English label on the drum that would have alerted him to its contents, but Tyson disputes the findings.