I hate the phrase, “you can’t fix stupid.” It is offensive and mean; most importantly, that phrase is just wrong. Stop saying it. Stop using this phrase right now. “You can’t fix stupid” is serving you and your organization poorly. It colors your thinking, it makes you stop investigations too early, it sounds like something a “jerk” would say, and it pisses people off. “You can’t fix stupid” causes...

The Kentucky agency that oversees boiler safety claims the plant operated a vessel that exploded without a proper inspection permit. The Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction found that the cooker that exploded was installed without a required permit that would have triggered a state inspection. https://www.wdrb.com/wdrb-investigates/criminal-charges-could-apply-to-inspection-...

B31.3 requires that each piping system be leak-tested to ensure tightness prior to initial operation [¶345.1]. B31 imposes certain restrictions on the types of leak tests which may be used, some general requirements for conducting leak tests, some preparation requirements for leak tests, some specific requirements for each type of leak test, and some record keeping requirements. The following six types...

February 5, 2025 MEMORANDUM FOR: REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS STATE PLAN DESIGNEES THROUGH: SCOTT C. KETCHAM, Deputy Assistant Secretary FROM: ERIN P. GILMORE, Acting Director Directorate of Enforcement Programs SUBJECT: Enforcement Stay of the COVID-19 Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements under 29 CFR 1910.502 On June 21, 2021, OSHA adopted a Healthcare Emergency Temporary standard (Healthcare ETS)...

Failures in effective process safety leadership/process safety management can be linked to historical Major Accident Hazard (MAH) events such as Piper Alpha, Buncefield and Texas City amongst others. In 2018, HSE flagged concerns about the offshore industry regarding stagnating safety performance and challenged the industry to respond, leading to the adoption of the Principles of Process Safety Leadership...

I am always amazed at the lack of a basic understanding of atmospheric pressure and process pressures/vacuums. My Intermediate 3-Day PS course and my Advanced 5-Day PS course have a single slide, and every time, I find I have to spend an hour explaining to the class what PSIG is and how it’s different from PSIA or just “PSI” slang. When we see an atmospheric storage tank, that vessel...

THEN THE ORGANIZATION IS DOING SAFETY ALL WRONG in the Year 2025! ➡️ OSHA compliance is the “baby steps” of safety. It’s our foundation. If the business is over 10 or older, OSHA compliance efforts should be HISTORY in 2025. ➡️ Complying with OSHA/Government MINIMUM safety standards is NOT making “Safety a Priority” or “Safety First,” etc. It is doing the MINIMUM...

A mentor of mine had this sign in his office, and every time I complained about a lack of commitment to safety, he would either hand me a Job Application to McDonald’s or point to this sign. If we think about it, it fits so many management teams today. I look back on my former management teams in my early days and came to realize, about 4 years into my consulting run, just how good I had it....

This video is an excellent visual of the expansion ratio of Liquified Natural Gas. During a transfer, a ship broke free and stretched the hose until it broke. It was all captured on cellphone video. … HomeRead More »

A 24-year-old man was crushed when caught between a retort machine and a stack of empty racks carried by a shuttle entering the machine. The victim entered the retort machine to clear dropped food cups from the inside of the machine without locking out the retort, which is typical activity at this location for this process. While inside the machine, the shuttle moved forward with empty racks. An emergency...

State Coordinators distribute ERGs ONLY to their State’s public response organizations. If you are not a public responder, click here for a list of commercial suppliers of the ERG2024. CLICK HERE

The FRA report is a shining example of how a CEO can impact the culture within an organization. CEO Joe Hinrich has made a huge impact at CSX in all aspects, but what he’s done for safety sets him apart. For the FRA to call his work out in their Cultural Assessment is unique across the six Class 1 railroads. Hell one of the railroads got their assessment canceled because of suspected management...