The EPA’s Risk Management Plan (RMP) rule was the first time many EHS professionals had ever heard of Emergency Response Planning Guidelines (ERPGs). That was 1999, and still today 2007 there are many EHS professionals outside the PSM/RMP arena who still have not heard of ERPG’s. This article is an attempt to explain what they…...
What are Emergency Response Planning Guidelines (ERPGs)? Read More »
Emergency response personnel may have never heard the acronym AEGL, but that doesn’t mean it does not play a major role in the decision making process at almost all emergency responses to hazardous materials. AEGL’s and ERPG’s are the most widely used exposure guidelines in emergency responses to hazardous materials. In fact, did you know…...
What are Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs)? Read More »
Temporary Emergency Exposure Limits (TEELs) are guidelines designed to predict the response of members of the general public to different concentrations of a chemical during an emergency response incident. Note: TEEL values are NO longer included specifically in ALOHA, see PACs. TEELs estimate the concentrations at which most people will begin to experience health effects if they are exposed to a…...
What are Temporary Emergency Exposure Limits (TEELs)? Read More »
Protective Action Criteria for Chemicals (PACs) dataset is a hierarchy-based system of the three common public exposure guideline systems: AEGLs, ERPGs, and TEELs. A particular hazardous substance may have values in any or all of these systems. The PACs dataset implements the following hierarchy when choosing which values to use for the PACs: Final, 60-minute AEGL values Interim, 60-minute AEGL values…...
What are Protective Action Criteria for Chemicals (PACs)? Read More »
Public exposure guidelines are intended to predict how members of the general public would be affected (that is, the severity of the hazard) if they are exposed to a particular hazardous chemical in an emergency response situation. The most common public exposure guidelines are: AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels) ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines) TEELs (Temporary Emergency Exposure…...
What are Public Exposure Guidelines? Read More »
Comparison of Pressure Vessel Inspection Requirements in the Refrigeration Industry Code Type of Inspection Component Description Inspection Remediation Inspection Frequency IIAR 109 (1997) All pressure vessels If signs of more than mild corrosion should inspect further by a professional engineer or ASME inspector (4.3.5) None listed – Annual ammonia safety check (5.2) – Thorough inspection every 5 years (5.3) IIAR 110 (1993) Including…...
Comparison of Pressure Vessel Inspection Requirements in Refrigeration Industry Read More »
Comparison of Piping Inspection Requirements in Refrigeration Industry Code Component Description Inspection Remediation Inspection Frequency IIAR 109 (1997) Uninsulated Pipe (4.7.4) Examine for corrosion Clean pipe down to bare metal and paint with rust preventative paint. “Badly corroded pipe should be replaced.” (4.7.4) – Annual ammonia safety check (5.2) – Thorough inspection every 5 years (5.3) …...
Comparison of Piping Inspection Requirements in Refrigeration Industry Read More »
Source Corrosion Rate or Degree of Corrosion Remaining Life or Fitness for Service Application API 570 Long-term (between last and initial inspections): (use corrosion rate resulting in shortest remaining life) Piping Short-term (between last and previous inspections): Piping and Vessels NBIC – 23 a) calculated from data collected by owner or user on vessels in the same…...
Corrosion Rates and Remaining Life/Fitness for Service Read More »
The following are all the “exemptions” permitted in EPA’s Risk Management Plan rule (40 CFR PART 68—Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions)… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Summary of the RMP Chemical Exemptions Read More »
Below is OSHA’s official position on the need for hydrostatic relief valves in an Ammonia Refrigeration process. This is a bold move on OSHA’s part as the Ammonia Refrigeration industry and their trade groups have consistently stated that a “trained operator” is better than a hydrostatic RV. (emphasis added by me)… Membership Required You must...
OSHA’s position on Hydrostatic Relief Valves and Ammonia Refrigeration Processes Read More »
I recently worked with a client on their emergency response efforts, and we continue to find businesses that do not understand the different requirements of qualifying a worker to use a respirator under CONTROLLED workplace exposures vs. UNCONTROLLED emergency response exposures. So, I wanted to write this article to make it as straightforward as possible……...
Normal Respirator Use vs. Emergency Response Team use Read More »
When analyzing barriers, investigators should first consider how the hazard and target could come together and what was in place or was required to keep them apart. Obvious physical barriers are those placed directly on the hazard (e.g., a guard on a grinding wheel); those placed between a hazard and target (e.g., a railing on…...
Accident Investigation – Barrier Analysis Read More »
