This was an actual weld that was found during a major upgrade to a process.  The next time someone says “weld inspections” and “certifications” are not necessary… remember this image!  

Recently EPA issued a Consent Decree in response to a company that had two (2) facilities inspected under the Risk Management Plan Rule (40 CFR Part 68).  The document was much like the many others I have posted here; however, this agreement contained a lengthy audit plan that EPA and the company agreed to as part of the resolution of the inspections.  This material could be viewed as an...

The Facility is a “stationary source” within the meaning of Section 112(r)(2)(C) of the CAA and 40 C.F.R. § 68.3.  The Facility has at least two “processes” within the meaning of 40 C.F.R. § 68.3, including a chlorine repackaging process and a chlorine and sulfur dioxide warehousing process.  Chlorine and sulfur dioxide are regulated substances under Section...

UPDATED with another week of data… Have you ever wondered just how busy is OSHA?  How many inspections does OSHA do in a single month?  What are they working on?  Who are they visiting?  Why are they visiting certain workplaces and not others?  Are they “picking on any one”?  etc.  Well I have a look into two months of inspection history from 1/19/15...

Last year (2014) SAFTENG was asked to perform an assessment on several brewers to ensure compliance with OSHA standards, specifically in regards to Permit Required Confined Spaces.  This review was brought on largely due to the 2013 confined space accident in Mexico which claimed the lives of seven (7) workers.  We still do not know the details of that tragic accident, but it did spur quite...

How well do you know the history of the equipment we use everyday?  Try and guess what is being described in each group based on the hints given. Answers are at the very bottom of the page… Many THANKS to Bob Cornett and his safety group for sharing. … HomeRead More »

    Over 12,000 exclusive unsafe acts/conditions and accident/injuries photos and over 1,100 ppt’s & doc’s from more than 2,782 contributors!   2015 Fatality Tracker Electrical 9 (2014 =55) (2013 = 32) (2012 = 68) Forklift/Aerial 5 (2014 = 60) (2013=62) (2012 = 52) Mining* 7 (2014 = 401) (2013=87*) (2012 = 92*) *ONLY developed nations and legal mines Explosions 56 (2014...

Two contractor fatalities to start 2015. Seven contractor deaths occurred in 2014. On January 11, 2015, a contract shaft miner was killed while riding on top of a skip in a ventilation shaft. The victim was caught between a support beam in the shaft and a handrail on the skip.  On January 8, 2015, a sales representative was killed helping to change a screen liner on a screen deck. Best Practices...

In the last two months there were three electrical incidents at underground coal mines that resulted in miners being transported to the hospital. The first incident occurred when an electrician was shocked and burned while attempting to repair a damaged continuous mining machine cable, with the circuit breaker closed and the cable coupler connected to the receptacle. The second miner was shocked while...

This is a slippery slope for us and OSHA to walk.  It is clearly a requirement when contractors enter our Permit Required Confined Spaces (PRCS), but how do we demonstrate that we are indeed “debriefing” these contractors as required by 1910.146(c)(8)(v)?  What do we have on hand that can show all entries involving contractors involved in a “debrief” at the conclusion of entry operations? ...

FYI… those are crash test dummies.