Respondent owns and operates a cheese manufacturing facility. On March 22, 2022, EPA inspected the Facility to evaluate compliance with CERCLA Section 103, EPCRA Sections 304-312, and the GDC of CAA Section 112(r). Based upon the information gathered during the Inspection and subsequent investigation, EPA determined that Respondent violated certain provisions of CERCLA, EPCRA, and the CAA. At all times...

On March 28, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its Final Rule: Clean Water Act Hazardous Substance Facility Response Plans (Final Rule), requiring certain facilities to develop Facility Response Plans (FRP) for a worst-case discharge of Clean Water Act (CWA) hazardous substances, or threat of such a discharge. A worst-case discharge is the largest foreseeable discharge...

“Most adverse events have their origin in two places: the systems we design around the humans and the choices of humans within those systems The resulting harm and the human errors (slips, lapses, and mistakes) that may have caused it are really two forms of outcome—outcomes to be monitored, studied, and perhaps grieved. Systems and choices are where the action is, with culture referring to the...

Goodhart’s law says… “When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.” This “law” is often used when denouncing poorly devised safety metrics and/or incentive programs.  In most situations where there is a weak/immature Safety Process/SMS, the “law” makes sense; however, this is because, without strong leadership and a functioning Safety...

Yesterday, I went to my local mechanic to have my oil changed and my tires rotated.  It took me 20 years to find this shop, and they hit a home run every time.  But yesterday was quite entertaining, and I could not help but think, “We are not alone” after what I witnessed.  A gentleman around my age came into the shop and explained his problem.  Now, I am not a mechanic,...

Line Break is commonly associated with OSHA’s Highly Hazardous Chemicals in its PSM standard and EPA’s Extremely Hazardous Substances in its RMP rule.  But SAFTENG members know I use Line Break Safe Work Practice (SWP) outside the PSM/RMP process battery limits.  I apply this SWP to energy sources such as steam and even water when the water is pressurized or heated.  I have...

How times have changed in 30 years regarding “materials of construction” in hazardous materials processes.  I grew up in process safety, seeing nothing but metallic piping systems; today, I bet I see piping systems made from non-metallic products upwards of 25% of the time.  This is becoming increasingly acceptable in one specific process I do a lot of work with, so I can not...

This article applies to BOTH facilities practicing process safety and basic OSH.  Many of the facilities will declare they have and utilize a Safety Management System (SMS) in their efforts to manage hazards and risks those hazards pose to workers, the environment, and the business.  However, I have developed five (5) simple tests to determine if the facility is managing safety/process safety...

In the social media “safety sphere,” it is literally impossible to spend five minutes and not be bombarded by all the new approaches to “safety.” In many of these new approaches, they will almost unilaterally denounce the traditional approach to safety management and provide case studies to prove their point.  Maybe I am just an old dog and can’t learn these new tricks,...

Most PSSR forms we encounter simply regurgitate OSHA’s 1910.119(i)(2). If the user is thoroughly knowledgeable of what each of these four (4) line items entails, we may be able to execute the PSSR appropriately. Let’s look at these four line items, especially the first line. 1910.119(i)(2) The pre-startup safety review shall confirm that prior to the introduction of highly hazardous chemicals...

The two (2) terms sound similar and will conjure up similar images when we hear them, but they are used in the ASME B31 piping standards in very different ways and apply to different groups. To state it very simply, the EXAMINATION is what the owner/operator does to pass the INSPECTION, which is what the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) does.  In summary EXAMINATION is a thorough examination...

The business benefits to be obtained from employee engagement are huge. Studies have shown that (a) where employee engagement was low, companies had 62% more safety incidents (Harter, Schmidt, Killham, & Asplund, 2006); and (b) where employee engagement was high, engaged employees were five times less likely to experience a safety incident, and seven times less likely to have a lost-time safety...