I have mentioned the former plant managers that I was so privileged to have had to opportunity to work for these pioneers in safety. These were Chemical Engineers, but they were safety geniuses before their time. In 1996, I went to work for Dale Fannin, and I had no idea what I was in for. …...
Leading Indicators explained in the idea that safety is a PROCESS/SMS Read More »
INTRODUCTION Recent inspection programs for metallic pressure containment vessels and tanks have revealed cracking and damage in a considerable number of the vessels inspected. Safety and hazard evaluations of pressure vessels, as also presented in OSHA Instruction PUB 8-1.5, need to consider the consequences of a leakage or a rupture failure of a vessel. Two…...
The BASICS on PRESSURE VESSEL SAFETY (OSHA) Read More »
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. When down through the chimney, all covered with soot Came the “Spirit of Fire,” an ugly galoot. His eyes glowed like embers; his features were stern As he looked all around him for something…...
Twas the night before Christmas (Fire Protection Engineer version) Read More »
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OSHA’s PRCS Decision Flow Chart Read More »
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RMP Program Level Determination Flowchart (LA-DEQ) Read More »
On Tuesday, April 8, 1997, at approximately 8:59 a.m., a 5,700-gallon hydrochloric acid (HCl) storage tank ruptured during filling. The failure of the HCl tank caused a significant portion of its liquid contents (which totaled about 4,800 gallons of 31% HCl) to suddenly surge over the secondary containment. The force of the liquid also caused…...
5,700-gallon hydrochloric acid (HCl) storage tank ruptured during filling Read More »
The use of risk controls or barriers to protect the people from hazards is a core principle of safety. Barriers are employed to serve two purposes: to prevent the release of hazardous energy and to mitigate harm in the event hazardous energy is released Energy is defined broadly as used here and includes multiple forms,…...
The Function of Safety Barriers (Layers of Protection) Read More »
Safety Management Systems (SMS) was developed to integrate safety as part of an organization’s management of safety performance. The benefits of process-based management systems are a well-established component of quality performance. As organizations and the technologies they employ became more complex and diverse, and the rate of change in the pace of societal expectations, technical…...
Safety Management Systems (ANSI/ISO/PSM/RMP/SIF) Read More »
An organizational event-causal story developed by James Reason starts with the organizational factors: Strategic decisions, Generic organizational processes – forecasting, budgeting, allocating resources, planning, scheduling, communicating, managing, auditing, etc. These processes are colored and shaped by the corporate culture, unspoken attitudes, and unwritten rules concerning how the organization carries out its business. [Reason, 1997]… Membership...
From Latent Conditions to Active Failures (Dr. James Reason Human Failure Model) Read More »
This is one of the most commonly misunderstood RMP/PSM compliance issues for facilities that use rail cars as storage tanks and or use “tube trailers” as storage tanks. EPA has been clear since 1998 on how these rail cars that are hooked up to the process and those that are “stored on spurs” are to…...
EPA’s Risk Management Plan (RMP) and Transportation Containers Read More »
Clarifications and Interpretations of the PSM Standard The guidance contained in this appendix is provided for compliance assistance. This appendix contains clarifications agreed to in a settlement agreement dated April 5, 1993, between OSHA, the United Steelworkers of America, the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union, and the Building and Construction Trades Department of…...
OSHA Q&A on PSM Compliance (CPL02-02-045, 1994) Read More »
Here is a list of questions investigators may ask to determine whether line management deficiencies affected the accident. These questions are based on the seven (7) guiding principles of an SMS. These are not intended to be exhaustive. Investigator(s) should adapt these questions or develop new ones based on the specific characteristics of the accident…....
