Establishments in federal jurisdictions must comply with the new requirements beginning January 1, 2015. OSHA’s September 18 final rule did not go into effect in Kentucky on January 1, 2015; 803 KAR 2:180 remains in effect in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  In 2006, Kentucky implemented reporting requirements found in 803 Kentucky Administrative Regulation (KAR) 2:180 that are similar but differ from...

 During the last legislative session, the General Assembly passed House Bill 189 which eliminated the requirement for an employer to develop a chemical information list that identified both the common name and chemical name of the material, and the location in the workplace where the material may be found. The legislation also eliminated the requirement to revise the list every two years, and submit...

Oregon OSHA is delaying the adoption of the proposed changes to Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Standards in General Industry and Construction. This rulemaking proposal is in response to the April 11, 2014 federal OSHA adoption, published in the Federal Register, that revised Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution standards in general industry and construction, 29...

Availability of DHS Crude By Rail (CBR) Emergency Response 4-Hour Web-based Training. Here is the information concerning course content and registration: Course Description — Crude By Rail (CBR) Emergency Response 4-Hour Web-based Training This program is designed for first responders with railroads passing through their jurisdiction. You will learn basic knowledge to respond to incidents involving...

This week the WV Attorney General Office (WVAGO) released their investigation report on the 2014 Elk River Chemical spill.  This incident caused a mandatory Do-Not-Use (Water) order to be issued and more than 300,000 residents and countless businesses in a nine-county radius were without potable water for nine (9) days.  This incident has now been tied to the Mechanical Integrity of several...

Smoke alarms by the numbers: In 2007-2011, smoke alarms sounded in half of the home fires reported to U.S. fire departments. Three of every five home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. No smoke alarms were present in more than one-third (37%) of the home fire deaths. Source: NFPA’s “Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires” report, (March...

Two workers were killed while cleaning rail cars and were exposed to a dangerous amount of hydrogen sulfide gas.  The primary cause of death of both employees was closed space asphyxiation and hydrogen sulfide intoxication, a byproduct of the residual organic waste contained in the tank. OSHA determined that neither victim was equipped with an emergency retrieval system before they entered the car....

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), also known as WA-OSHA, has cited a landscaping business for multiple safety violations related to the death of a worker, 19, last July. He was killed by a rotating auger while working inside the hopper of a bark-blower truck.  The company has been cited for two willful and 14 serious violations, with penalties totaling $199,000. The employer...

If I were to do 20 PSM/RMP audits per year with new clients, I estimate that I would have the following debate 15 times!  In my Process Safety courses, I have a little fun with the phrase “Upwards and Unobstructed” as I make the class stand and repeat that phrase three times.  But somehow/somewhere, this basic design characteristic got lost in many Pressure Relief System design...

A worker died (November 3, 2014) after Malaic Anhydride vapors released from an over-pressurized reactor burned his respiratory system on July 7, 2014. A second employee was treated at a hospital and released. A July 2014 OSHA inspection resulted in citations for 17 safety and health violations. OSHA initiated the inspection after a media referral alleged that a chemical release at the manufacturing...

Each year I received dozens of e-mail questions, as well as from clients with operations in OH, regarding a “requirement” by Ohio Fire Codes to conduct an “annual evacuation drill”.  Since this question seems to be so popular, I thought I should just post my attempt at an FAQ for OH Fire Drills: 1) Does my facility have to conduct a fire drill? Yes 2) If yes, what is the frequency of this drill? At...

PSM/RMP covered process(s) owner’s/operators have the option to manage the integrity of their plant and plan inspection from assessments of the risks of failure. They need to be able to demonstrate that the risk assessment and inspection planning processes are being implemented in an effective and appropriate manner. The aim of this report is to assist Duty Holders and regulators identify best...