OSHA is issuing corrections to the Walking-Working Surfaces, Personal Protective Equipment, and Special Industries standards. Summary and Explanation … HomeRead More »

On November 1 through November 4, 2016, representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Region IX conducted an inspection of the XXXXXXXX refinery. EPA’s inspection was conducted to determine compliance with the Risk Management Program (“RMP”) promulgated under Section 112(r)(7) of the Clean Air Act (“CAA”‘), and the General Duty...

I was unable to find an OSHA case file on this; possibly because this was a state-run project.  But I searched under both company’s names and no case file was found.

On July 2, 1998, Employee #1 entered the underground vault of domestic well #8 to check the aquifer level without first testing the atmosphere. An oxygen-deficient atmosphere existed and Employee #1 died as a result of asphyxia.   OSHA Case File … HomeRead More »

This video, from AsiaWorkSAFE, is about lessons learned due to non-compliance to safe work practices when working in permit-required confined space. Safety procedures must be adhered to at ALL times. If not, the consequences are everlasting and far-reaching.  This incident happened in an open pit with a fixed ladder.  One entrant entered to fix a rope on a valve and was overcome by H2S...

Background: The employer has truck drivers that drive in and out of oil/gas refineries. Drivers are provided with a North 7900 series air-purifying disposable mouthpiece type respirator for use as an escape-only respirator. The owner’s manual to the North 7900 Series disposable mouthpiece type escape respirator warns employers to be aware of any physical limitations or illnesses that would preclude...

The CSB proposes to add a new part to title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which will appear as a new part 1604. The proposed part will consist of six (6) sections. Proposed § 1604.1 states the purpose of the rule. Proposed § 1604.2 sets forth key definitions. Section 1604.3 sets forth who must file a report and when. Section 1604.4 describes the information required in each report. Section...

In EPA’s RMP standard there are four (4) TOXIC substances which have listed concentrations: Hydrochloric acid 37% or greater Hydrofluoric acid 50% or greater Nitric acid 80% or greater Ammonia 20% or greater If we have any of these four (4) substances in solution AND their concentration is LESS THAN (<) the listed concentration, we do NOT need to consider the solution(s) at all. However,...

Here’s one you don’t see every day: 1) a state university needing an RMP for its power generation plant’s SCR, 2) the SCR uses 29% aqua ammonia rather than anhydrous ammonia, and 3) they exceeded the doubled TQ for Aqua Ammonia > 20% of 20,000 pounds. Respondent is part of a State University system and owns and operates a Combined Power and Heat Plant. Respondent uses aqueous ammonia...

There are solid reasons why state safety codes require that gasoline be transferred into an “Approved Container”.  And I know I don’t need to state the obvious, but for those not in our profession, plastic grocery bags are NOT approved fuel containers… even when we double-bag! … HomeRead More »

These days the one thing I love about my job is when a client actually asks me to lessen their risks through safety engineering. Yes, I went to school and got my BS in OSH and my MS in SE and they are stunningly different applications. With one, I help companies with their OSHA compliance matters and that is fundamental to building a strong safety foundation. But OSHA compliance is the MINIMUM and...

Here is a look at OSHA’s compliance activity in 2019 (October 2018 – September 2019) in the NAICS Code: 31 Major Group 33: Primary Metal Industries. As you can see, OSHA did 2,380 inspections and issued 8,790 citations for a total of $26,187,441 in fines. Here is a quick breakdown of the activity: … HomeRead More »