MANY THANKS to my RENEWING Partners in Safety 2013 Fatality Tracker Electrical 32 (2012 = 68) (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift 62 (2012 = 52) (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining* 78 (2012 = 92*)  (2011 = 248) (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) *no longer includes China accidents Explosions 186 (2012 = 241) (2011 = 218) (2010 = 246) (2009 = 302) Cranes 47 (2012 = 52)...

OSHA is considering revising its Process Safety Management (PSM) standard, 29 CFR 1910.119, to address gaps in safety coverage; or updating its Flammable Liquids standard, 29 CFR 1910.106, and Spray Finishing standard, 29 CFR 1910.107, based on the latest consensus standards. The following options are being considered: … HomeRead More »

The first (1st) public review of draft standard IIAR 4-201x, Installation of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems is now open. Substantive changes resulting from this public review will also be provided for comment in a future public review if necessary.  IIAR 4 specifies criteria for the installation of closed-circuit ammonia refrigeration systems. It presupposes that the persons...

http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/osha/educate/GHS-SAIF/player.html  

WARNING!  This video may be upsetting to some; viewer discretion is advised. Firefighters said the 62-year-old man was hauling propane on a tow motor/forklift when a propane tank fell off of the vehicle onto the road.  He then ran over the propane tank, causing it to explode, injuring the driver.

 Last week I wrote a posting about LOTO and got a lot of e-mails regarding the tone of my postings.  To make my point, this week’s “photo of the week” is taken from an on-line training program for LOTO.  Look very closely at this photo and post the OSHA violations you see.  There are TWO (2) that are visible without having to ask anyone any questions. What is really...

How many process safety management systems for ammonia refrigeration have you seen that included “temporary operations”? There seems to be an industry-wide mind set that there are no “temporary operations” in ammonia refrigeration. Heck, even the largest ammonia refrigeration trade group states there are is no such thing as “temporary operations” in the ammonia refrigeration...

RMPs must be updated at least once every five (5) years.  You must fully update your RMP for resubmission sooner than the five-year anniversary date, if any of the changes specified below occur [as specified in 40 CFR 68.190(b)]. If a change alters the Program Level that applies to any covered process, the RMP must be resubmitted within six months of that change. If a change requires a revised...

Since the establishment of the original Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) values in 1974, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has continued to review available scientific data to improve the methodology used to derive acute exposure guidelines, in addition to the chemical-specific IDLH values. The primary objective of this Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB)...

OSHA has issued a proposed rule to improve workplace safety and health through improved tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. The announcement follows the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ release of its annual Occupational Injuries and Illnesses report, which estimates that three million workers were injured on the job in 2012. The public will have 90 days, through Feb. 6, 2014, to submit...

Anyone who has submitted an RMP or maybe done a Worst Case Scenario (WCS) using EPA’s modeling software “RMP* Comp” will recognize this little checkbox at the bottom of the data page just above the SUBMIT button… But when is this little checkbox, which can have a large impact on your scenario, allowed to be checked?  When should it be checked to be technically accurate?...

We are often questioned about our audit methology and techniques.  Clients ask… “How did you know to ask me about that?” or “Why in the world do you want to see that for in a PSM/RMP audit?”  Well, here is one way I learned what gets asked for; attached is an official EPA RMP Inspection report from a four (4) day inspection at a large refinery complex.  The...