As we know, both OSHA’s PSM and EPA’s RMP rule require us to evaluate the hazardous effects of inadvertent mixing of different materials that could foreseeably occur.  BOTH standards allow us to use our SDS to comply with 910.119(d)(1) Information pertaining to the hazards of the highly hazardous chemicals in the process. The problem is that many SDSs do not adequately address 1910.119(d)(1)(vii)...

Question   I am the owner/ operator of a business that maintains Anhydrous Ammonia (AA) at or above the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Screening Threshold Quantity (STQ) for BOTH the treatment of crops and for use as a refrigerant in a cold storage facility. Is my facility eligible to claim the CFATS Agricultural Production Facility (APF) Top-Screen extension? … HomeRead...

Department Name: Energy Division (Offshore) Bulletin No: ED 2-2015 Issue Date: 18 September 2015 Target Audience: Offshore Chemical Processing and production Key Issues: This Safety Alert highlights the issue of inadequate material properties of small diameter clamp connectors and the potential for sudden brittle failure. … HomeRead More »

The Respondent receives, repackages, freezes, and stores meat and meat by-products used for human and animal consumption. Its refrigeration system holds 17,609 pounds of anhydrous ammonia and is a Program 3 facility under 40 C.F.R. § 68.10(d). Respondent employs between 40 and 60 employees and operates two shifts per day.  On or about May 7, 2013, EPA conducted an inspection of Respondent’s...

EPA and DOJ have announced a $5.6 million settlement with a manufacturer of pesticides to resolve violations of federal chemical accident prevention laws at its facility where an explosion killed two people in 2008. Under the settlement, the company committed to spending $4.23 million to improve emergency preparedness and response in Institute and protect the Kanawha River, pay a $975,000 penalty,...

A 41 year old male employee was exposed to a flash fire.  An employee in a mix room was exposed to a fire and explosion when an energetic material ignited.  Much of the mixing process was conducted remotely with operators separated by concrete walls from the large quantities of material.  A process step required an operator to enter the mix room and clean a small amount of residual material...

Our friends at Oregon OSHA have once again out done themselves with a great podcast that ALL safety professionals, safety committees, and management teams should take the 4.5 minutes and sit back and listen to this podcast.  The “hierarchy of controls” is the baseline for understanding how hazards are controlled and OR-OSHA nails it in this short and very concise podcast.  After...

PLEASE NOTE the LOI in which OSHA adopted EPA’s 1% rule was thrown out by the courts so I am NOT 100% sure OSHA can use the 1% rule from EPA in their evaluations of what is a covered process/HHC.   The smoke is still rising from OSHA’s recent change on Concentrations of greater than 1% for HHC solutions.  But already I am getting first-hand accounts from friends that are being...

 

I just love it when a SAFTENG “Partner in Safety” shines brightly!  This year Riggs became a Partner and Corporate Sponsor at SAFTENG and I could not be happier.  They have teamed up with several other businesses and OSHA VPP to make this EXCELLENT safety video.  MANY thanks to Mike Patton, Riggs Safety and Training Manager for sharing this with the SAFTENG family.  Here...

On February 5, 2015, EPA conducted a compliance inspection of 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)(7) of the Act. The EPA found that Respondent had violated regulations implementing section 112(r)(7) of the Act by failing to comply with the specific requirements outlined in the attached...