Today OSHA announced that they have placed International Paper (IP) into their Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP) following a combustible dust ignition incident involving fly-ash at one of their facilities.  This development is HUGE in the respect that IP was once one of OSHA’s top participants in the Voluntary Protection Program.  To go from one of OSHA’s top...

Employer(s) with employee(s) exposed to PSM-covered processes formerly exempted under OSHA’s 1992 interpretation of “retail facility” now must comply with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.119 if the facility, or portion of the facility processing the highly hazardous chemical, does not fall into the North American Industrial Classification System definition of retail trade (NAICS 44...

Today, OSHA issued their revised policy on their “retail exemption” and this change in OSHA enforcement will actually impact thousands of businesses who have submitted a Risk Management Plan.  It all comes down to how EPA instituted their “Program Levels” when they implemented their RMP Rule.  EPA has always said that if your process was already covered by OSHA’s...

Today OSHA issued another REVISED POSITION in their enforcement of the Process Safety Management Standard.  Today they rescinded their previous position and now employer(s) with employee(s) exposed to PSM-covered processes formerly exempted under OSHA’s 1992 interpretation of “retail facility” now must comply with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.119 if the facility, or portion...

UPDATED/CORRECTED on 9/14/15.  Many thanks to Chris Kim Kahn, Attorney at Law @ Frost Brown Todd LLC for her assistance in correct this posting. Respondent owns and operates a controlled-temperature storage warehouse for food products.  The Facility is located on the banks of the Connecticut River, within a quarter mile of residences and other businesses, within a half mile of two Interstate...

The National Board Annual Violation Tracking Report identifies specific violations (per device type) commonly found on five (5) types of pressure equipment during jurisdiction-required inspections. The following data reflects the reporting period of 1/1/2014 – 12/31/2014 as reported by participating member jurisdictions. The Violation Tracking Report indicates problem areas and trends related...

The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors has released its First Quarter Report of Violation Findings for 2015. The data captures problem areas and trends related to boiler and pressure vessel operation, installation, maintenance, and repair; and also identifies problems before unsafe conditions occur. This report serves as an important source of documentation for jurisdictional...

 

 

Ever wonder about that 5 o’clock shadow and the impact it may have on a respirator face-to-mask seal?  How about 2-3 days growth… what is that impact on respiratory protection safety?  Well now we have a much better idea!  The UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) did a small study to find out just how much a day or two (study looked at 0-7 days) of facial hair growth...

I am back from my summer family vacation and this catches us up on our accidents since 7/10/15.      Over 12,500 exclusive unsafe acts/conditions and accident/injuries photos and over 1,100 ppt’s & doc’s from more than 2,797 contributors! Many THANKS to my NEW and RENEWING “Partners in Safety“ 2015 Fatality Tracker Electrical 25 (2014 =55) (2013 = 32) (2012...