This week, a LinkedIn post by Ed Davidson garnered some comments that disagreed with my comments about how the video should be used to show HOW NOT to respond to a fire that is (IMPO) beyond its incipient stage. As I had stated in my comments, some will celebrate the actions of those involved rather than understand the risks they took. Most of these comments were by people outside the safety profession,...

As an accident investigator this has to be one of my favorite books. Of course, I am a massive fan of Dekker’s books and videos. He has a newer book on this topic that is also a MUST-READ for safety professionals and accident investigators. After nearly 16 years as a safety professional in the chemical industry, I came to the realization that errors, mistakes, and violations (James Reason’s...

Lots of folks find it hard to believe when I discuss Minimum Ignition Energy for flammable vapors/gases and Combustible dust. When we get “shocked” by a door handle in the wintertime, and we can feel it, that is around 10-15 mJ. Most common flammable gases and vapors now have MIE’s less than 1.0 mJ. Watch how static electricity lights the gas stove… DO NOT TRY THIS STUNT!

Please keep in mind that I am speaking strictly in terms of “complying” with required baseline standards and codes. Is 10,000% compliance a pipe dream? Should it be an expectation of the business leaders? 10,000% means 100% compliance -100% of the time. Remember, these are baseline standards/codes that have been in place for 40-50+ years and many businesses have been in business this long or longer....

This Louisville explosion has started the debate about the plant being in a residential area. What most of the media and local politicians fail to mention is that the plant has been there since 1948. The neighborhood was allowed to build up around it because of lax zoning and spineless politicians. So to blame the business for being there first is a bit rich for me to swallow. https://apnews....

For example, the popularity of flammable refrigerants. The risk is real! R-600a is an isobutane, a flammable substance like you might find in a cigarette lighter. https://www.wftv.com/news/local/it-blew-right-across-his-home-appliance-expert-warns-about-potentially-explosive-refrigerators/T7MZ3NZXQZBVRIXEKEFYIASOQQ/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGk79ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUSSh_owUKgWKjC4TZImcC-Gmc9RGcLqgzWxhlB6...

A couple of KEY items, reading between the lines: Discharge from the PRV was HORIZONTAL through a horizontal tee, not UPWARDS, and UNOBSTRUCTED. The release was OUTSIDE, yet the facility evacuated, and some workers evacuated into the NH3 cloud that had formed (see image below) Only 170 pounds of NH3 was released. Forty people working at the Cuisine Solutions facility were evaluated at various...

The Courier-Journal has released more photos. Below is my analysis of these photos, using their and Google Maps road images. The first image below is the PRE-EXPLOSION image. In it, we can see the two (2) standing cooling towers/condensers. The one in the blue box is the one that was destroyed and came to rest in front of the larger tower. The red box is the suspected location; I think the vessel...

A few years ago, I put forth the idea that workers pass through the 3 Cs in their decision-making process as they learn to take more and more risks.  Those three (3) Cs were: Concerned (as they begin their job) Comfortable (as they get positive consequences from their at-risk behavior) Confident (they think they can do the job breaking the rules and nothing bad is going to happen) That...

For each one of my Advanced SMS courses, I always start the course by having the students list the 16 Elements of the SAFTENG Safety Process/SMS in order of importance.  I tell them there is no right or wrong answer.  Over the past couple of years, I began to keep the answers to the questions as there is a distinct difference between how we, as safety pros, see the elements and how operations,...

This week, we saw a fatal explosion in Louisville, KY. This same facility, albeit under a previous ownership, had a catastrophic failure of a PV in 2003. The photos coming out of the post-analysis of this week’s event look to be a similar type of explosion. CLICK HERE to see the pics. Here is my analysis, using the pics to piece the event. I am NOT involved in this investigation, but I have...

Inspections As of the 3rd quarter of the fiscal year (Q3), EPA completed 133 CAA Section 112(r) (Risk Management Program) inspections. Enforcement Cases As of the 3rd quarter of the fiscal year (Q3), EPA took action at 73 facilities to decrease the likelihood of chemical accidents.  Sasol Chemicals: In April 2024, EPA finalized a settlement with Sasol Chemicals (Sasol) over alleged...