Safety Info Posts

DHS completes the 1000th Compliance Assistance Visit (CAV)

On Wednesday April 25th 2012, the Infrastructure Security Compliance Division (ISCD) reached a milestone as it completed its 1000th Compliance Assistance Visit (CAV). CAVs support the regulated community by helping chemical facilities to understand and meet the requirements under the Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Standards (CFATS) based on their own unique circumstances.

Anhydrous Ammonia Tank Catastrophic Failure

On July 13, 1973, in Potchefstroom, South Africa there was an anhydrous ammonia accident involving a catastrophic failure of a pressurized ammonia storage tank that instantaneously released 38 tons of anhydrous ammonia into the atmosphere. Eighteen people died and an unknown number were injured. A visible cloud extended about 1,000 feet wide and about 1,400 feet

Hotwork tank explosions – OSHA is not the problem!

FREE DOWNLOAD of ANSI Z49.1:2012 Safety in Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes In my world of Process Safety I often hear OSHA being blamed for not being specific enough and if the OSHA standards were more specific… “these horrible accidents would be fewer”.  I wholeheartedly disagree with this line of thought.  Case in hand… in my

33 Incidents & 1 Update (5/22/12)

MANY THANKS to my NEW & RENEWING “Partners in Safety” for their support! since 2008 formerly Beta Steel since 2006 since 2012 since 2012 since 2007 2012 Fatality Tracker Electrical 32 (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment 25 (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining 33

Static Electric Discharge Hazard On Bulk Oil Tank Vessels

Electrostatic discharges have long been known as a hazard associated with handling petroleum products. A monograph by Klinkenberg and van der Minne in 1958 [1] led to the development of antistatic additives by Royal Dutch/Shell. J.T. Leonard has described many papers and publications from the 1960s and 1970s addressing both the hazard and related safety

Tanker Ship Hold Explosions from Flammable Atmospheres

An interesting analysis of flammable vapor explosions in the shipping industry.  The report provides some brief details of the incidents, with causes.  Everything from hotwork to static is covered.  I especially like using the one where the sample was being obtained from a hold using a metal bucket and fiber rope in my flammable liquids

Odorant Fade in Railroad Tank Cars (Safety Advisory 2012–01)

FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2012–01 to remind shippers and consignees of railroad tank cars containing odorized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), of the importance of taking actions to ensure that a sufficient level of odorant remains in the LPG throughout the entire transportation cycle. FRA is issuing this notice to raise awareness within the hazardous materials community,

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