A new type of factory-built combination exhaust and intake air fitting is introduced that does not require separation between the two openings.  Although this has been approved for the 2021 IBC, it is ONLY for dwelling or sleeping unit mechanical ventilation systems.   It is NOT ALLOWED for   HAZARDOUS MATERIALS   Exhaust Ventilation systems

I can not understand why the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) is ending WISER. This single ER tool was undoubtedly the best available ER tool! I have been sharing it for at least the past 10 years in all my HAZMAT courses. It is indeed a SAD day; as of February 28th, 2023, NLM will discontinue the Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER), the website ( https://wiser.nlm.nih.gov)...

The 2021 International Building Code (IBC) has revised how firewalls can be used to establish “control areas” within a structure.  Section 414.2.3 Number states: … HomeRead More »

The 2021 international Building Code (IBC) has a new requirement that will impact EXIT doors and their exterior landings.  Most states have NOT adopted this edition of the IBC, so this is just a heads up of what’s to come.  The new section (1809.5 .1 Frost protection at required exits) states: … HomeRead More »

In the CSB’s final report on a refinery incident, the agency calls on OSHA to: Develop guidance documents for performing process hazard analysis on operating procedures to address transient operation hazards in facilities with Process Safety Management (PSM) covered processes. A PHA is a critical element of the process safety management system; unfortunately, we see more poorly performed PHAs...

It seems these signs have grown horns and arisen from hell!  We have all seen them, and most of us have had them in our workplaces from time to time.  But are they evil?  Are they an accurate indicator of injury data manipulation?    Celebrating our successes in safety is IMPORTANT, and there is no better metric to celebrate than an actual reduction in injuries to our team...

A Wisconsin company that supplies malt barley to major craft breweries, home breweries, and other spirit and food production in the Midwest has again been found exposing employees to dangerous workplace hazards by federal safety inspectors.  OSHA has proposed penalties of $174,351 after inspectors identified two repeated and 14 serious safety and health violations after responding to a complaint...

MSA has a CBRN-certified Powered-Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) for first responders; however, this PAPR is NEVER to be worn for the initial entry into the Hot or Warm zones!  This is not a SAFTENG requirement; this comes straight from OSHA’s (and EPA’s) HAZWOPER standard… … HomeRead More »

It is pretty standard practice to hook up a compressed gas cylinder to a process.  In fact, many “blanket systems” on a small vessel will use a Nitrogen CG cylinder to provide the blanketing gas.  However, it is even more common to find this setup done improperly.  In this article, I will offer a RAGAGEP to follow that explicitly covers this practice.   First things...

This is NOT a fluff piece, as you may already know if you are a follower.  I am just dismayed at all the rhetoric around safety these days.  And yes, I realize I was spoiled rotten by the companies and men I worked for over my career as a safety pro in the chemical and semiconductor industries.  So I know first-hand that there are organizations (at least at a facility level) that want...

It is that time of year again… these heaters can become a serious hazard in the workplace.  And each year I get emails asking for help in controlling their use.  And as you know, I love to use safety standards that may not be legally applicable but provide excellent guidance to improve safety.  For those of you working for a management team that always plays the OSHA card, I offer...

At 11:45 a.m. on May 16, 2022, an employee was preparing to pump fuel into a pump station at an oil and gas site. He was holding the fuel pump and walking towards the fuel tank, when he tripped and inadvertently squeezed the pump’s handle, releasing diesel fuel. When the diesel contacted the pump manifold, it was ignited and engulfed the area in flames. The employee sustained burns to his entire...