This is not necessarily a “shocker” video, but it is an interesting way of loading and unloading vertical storage tanks.  Notice the tank has been modified in order to be loaded and unloaded in this manner.  I am guessing there is some type of locking device at the back of the truck that grabs onto the lattice structure on the back of the tank and then the winch pulls the tank...

 WOW!  The use of the scissor lifts and the ladder of course standout but look at how close the one manlift is at going down the stairs.  Sort of adds a bit of excitement…. NOT!

3/10/2015 UPDATE: The Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the Utility Line Clearance Coalition (ULCC), and the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) have negotiated a settlement with OSHA on the compliance dates for this new standard.  CLICK HERE for the official agreement. OSHA has revised the construction standard for electric power line work to make it more consistent with the corresponding...

In a previous article I posted the Fire Watch requirements found in OSHA, NFPA, and some state Fire Codes; however, the one critical path that is high on our list of findings during audits is the method of extinguishing the fire watch is provided.  We have, on many occasions, found fire extinguishers that had not been inspected in months, some were years past due for their annual maintenance/inspection,...

Fire watches are usually the youngest and lowest paid crew member on the job.  But why is this?  After all they are the difference between a job done safely and the potential loss of an entire business.  Most people think hotwork fires are rare – and they would be WRONG!  Anyone who subscribes to my incident alerts can tell you that each week I report two or three significant...

In just about all our audits, we get this question.  We all know that OSHA requires us to maintain our PRCS Entry Permits for one year to be used in our annual program review, but they do not mention HW permit retention.  We always advise maintaining HW permits on a rolling 12-month schedule; however, at some very large facilities, this can take a lot of filing cabinets!  So I am asked...

The targeted inspection, which began October 2014, is part of OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on chemicals, and focuses on OSHA’s PSM standard.  The pork-processing facility operates two anhydrous ammonia refrigeration systems. OSHA issued seven serious citations related to the process safety management of the ammonia refrigeration systems used in its production process. Three violations...

MANY THANKS to our longtime supporter/member at SAFTENG, Mr. Hardy for sharing these with our FaceBook group.  Although retired, Mr. Hardy is still a safety professional through and through!  

For the life of me, I can not figure out the aversion to doing MOCs.  I am guessing that my experiences in Petrochem were not the norm, as we used our MOC process for just about everything under the sun.  Heck even the QC group used our MOC process.  We rarely questioned the value of doing an MOC and the MOC process was fully accepted as a way of managing changes irregardless of what...

I found this latest Letter of Interpretation regarding PSM Battery Limits an interesting read.  The scenario is VERY COMMON and I am so glad OSHA wrote this letter!  OSHA reminds us that cylinders stored in the same fire area (e.g. a fire has no passive control(s) to prevent its spread) that ALL of the cylinders that could be impacted by the same fire MUST BE AGGREGATED to determine if the...

Respondent is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Michigan, and is thus a “person” according to section 302(e) of the CAA. At all times relevant to this Complaint, Respondent owned, operated, controlled and supervised a facility which includes buildings, structures, equipment, and installations belonging to the same industrial group, located on one or more contiguous...

  Many THANKS to my NEW and RENEWING “Partners in Safety” since 2015 since 2015 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*)...