On December 3, 2013, EPA conducted a compliance inspection of Respondent’s facility to determine compliance with the Risk Management Plan (RMP) regulations promulgated at 40 C.F.R. part 68 under section 112(r)(7) of the Act. The EPA found that the Respondent had violated regulations implementing section 112(r)(7) of the Act by failing to comply with the specific requirements outlined in the attached...

As I have said countless times, we ALL make errors.  This means in situations where those errors carry more severe consequences, such as industrial workplaces, then as safety engineers, it is our role to help the business DESIGN SAFE work tasks.  In HF engineering, we have eight (8) system design principles: Accurate mental models Managing information Reducing complexity Visibility Constraining...

In “general industry” workplaces OSHA has a “General Requirements” standard for conducting Welding, Cutting, and Brazing activities (1910.252). For those working within the battery limits of a PSM/RMP covered process, both OSHA (1910.119(k)(2) and EPA (68.85(b) reference 1910.252(a) as the basics of safely conducting these HW activities. But there is one (1) requirement that we almost always...

Yes, as many of you have figured out I am a big fan of using the Management of Change process to actually manage changes that may officially be outside the PSM/RMP requirements. But how OSHA changing their injury/illness reporting requirements impact my Process Safety Management System? Here’s how… … HomeRead More »

The incident just occurred yesterday (8/21/14).  A miner operator (underground coal) was cutting rock bottoms in a mine construction area, when he either hit a rib bolt with the cutter head, or a miner bit sheared in two. In either case, the steel fragment became a high speed projectile and struck the employee in the eye. As you can see in the photos, had the employee NOT been wearing safety glasses,...

A rather well-known “management consultant” back in the ’70s and ’80s was Forrest H. Kirkpatrick and Mr. Kirkpatrick wrote a poem about leadership that hangs on my office wall.  It pretty much sums up what being a safety leader is all about – even though Mr. Kirkpatrick meant for it to be a message to all managers.  Bottom line, it is one thing to “preach”...

A 51-year-old worker was fatally injured when he became engulfed in flowing grain in a railcar load-out elevator. On March 15, 2014, the incident occurred when the worker attempted to remove a jam from a chute while the auger operated. OSHA has cited the company for one willful, two repeat and eight serious safety violations, many involving OSHA’s grain handling, permit-required confined space...

EPA contacted the facility by letter in January 2014 to determine the facility’s compliance with RMP.  Based on communications with the facility, EPA determined that the facility exceeded the threshold for chloroform on 2/17/2010; however, the facility submitted their RMP with EPA on 4/14/2014.  The fine was $172,900 for a violation of 68.12 and 68.150 from 2/17/2010 – 4/14/2014....

EPA contacted the facility by letter in January 2014 to determine the facility’s compliance with RMP.  Based on communications with the facility, EPA determined that the facility had more than 10,000 pounds of Anhydrous Ammonia in a process; however, the facility had not filed an RMP with EPA.  The fine was $57,000 for a violation of 68.12.  CLICK HERE to see the agreement.

The Top 10 for Fiscal Year 2014 are: Fall protection (1926.501) = 6,143 Hazard Communication (1910.1200) = 5,161 Scaffolding (1926.451) = 4,029 Respiratory Protection (1910.134) = 3,223 Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) = 2,704 Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178) = 2,662 Electrical – Wiring Methods (1910.305) = 2,490 Ladders (1926.1053) = 2,448 Machine Guarding (1910.212) = 2,200 Electrical – General Requirements...

  2nd Quarter UPDATE with 289 Shocker and Accident Photos Now over 13,750 exclusive unsafe acts/conditions and accident/injuries photos and over 1,000 ppt’s & doc’s from more than 2,776 contributors!   Many THANKS to my RENEWING “Partners in Safety“ since 2009 since 2011 2014 Fatality Tracker Electrical 38 (2013 = 32) (2012 = 68) Forklift/Manlift 37 (2013=62)...