OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard states that its requirements do not apply to “retail facilities.” 29 CFR 1910.119(a)(2)(i).  On July 22, 2015, OSHA issued a memorandum entitled “Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals and Application of the Retail Exemption (29 CFR 1910.119(a)(2)(i))” (Memorandum). In the Memorandum, OSHA interpreted...

UPDATED on 1/10/2016 Here is a look at OSHA’s PRCS activity in 2015 (October 2014 – September 2015). As you can see, OSHA did 206 PRCS inspections and issued 545 citations for a total of $1,435,301 in fines. This is the SETTLED amount and NOT the initial citations. Here is a quick breakdown of activity: NAICS Code: 327 Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing was #1 in # of citations with...

Here is a look at OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) activity in 2015 (October 2014 – September 2015).  As you can see, OSHA did 1,796 LOTO inspections and issued 3,139 citations for a total of $9,013,808 in fines.  This is the SETTLED amount and NOT the initial citations.  Here is a quick breakdown of activity: NAICS Code: 332 Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing was #1...

Here is a look at OSHA’s PSM activity in 2015 (October 2014 – September 2015).  As you can see, OSHA did 109 PSM inspections and issued 477 citations for a total of $2,344,741 in fines.  This is the SETTLED amount and NOT the initial citations.  Here is a quick breakdown of activity: NAICS Code: 311 Food Manufacturing was #1 in # of citations with 144 NAICS Code: 325 Chemical...

OSHA’s Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout) standard has a paragraph called “Outside personnel (contractors, etc.)” and although it indicates that a contractor CAN use their own LOTO program within our facilities, I will attempt to convince you that it is MORE challenging than many may have considered.  Here is what 1910.147 states about “Outside personnel (contractors,...

PLEASE NOTE that there is a lack of info from this OSHA summary to establish if this was an issue with the quality of breathing air in the escape pack, a failure in training in how to operate the escape pack, or some other issue(s).  We do know that it was NOT the atmosphere within the space/tank that killed the worker, but he did die from asphyxia.  I have requested additional info in the...

On June 3-5, 2015, an authorized representative of the EPA conducted a compliance inspection of the Respondent’s facility to determine compliance with the Risk Management Plan (RMP) regulations promulgated at 40 C.F.R. Part 68 under Section 112(r) of the CAA. The EPA found that the Respondent had violated regulations implementing Section 112(r) of the CAA by failing to comply with the regulations...

Respondent owns and operates a controlled temperature production plant for milk and fruit juices. The Facility is located in a predominantly industrial and commercial area, across the street from the Lynn wastewater treatment plant, which also is an RMP facility. The Facility is within a quarter mile of a church, restaurants, other businesses, and freight and passenger rail lines. The Facility is within...

An Administrative Law judge has decided that the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission may have authority under the Occupational Safety and Health Act to order abatement measures sought by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration beyond the specific violations OSHA identified in its the citations.  OSHA cited Central...

On 25 November 2015, a scaffolder died after falling into a process vessel at a refinery.  A bank of six digesters at the refinery had been off-line for maintenance and refurbishment work since July 2015. All pipework had been disconnected and scaffolding installed in August for refurbishment work inside the digesters. When the refurbishment work was almost complete, scaffolders...