OSHA has cited asalt manufacturing plant for 13 safety violations and proposed penalties of $58,100 for exposing workers to chemical hazards. The complaint inspection, which began in March, was initiated under the agency’s complaint process and expanded to the PSM NEP. In this case, it’s the use of anhydrous ammonia.  Seven of the 12 serious violations involve deficiencies in PSM,...

The inspection began in May under the agency’s PSM NEP. The violations stemmed from the company’s refrigeration system. Six of the eight serious violations involve deficiencies in the PSM program, including failing to: … HomeRead More »

  Many THANKS to my NEWEST and RENEWING Corporate Partners in Safety… since 2013 since 2004 Since 2013 since 2013   2013 Fatality Tracker Electrical 22 (2012 = 68) (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift 45 (2012 = 52) (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining* 40 (2012 = 92*) (2011 = 248) (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) *no longer includes China accidents Explosions 114 (2012...

A quick search of SAFTENG.net and one will see that over the years I have written dozens of articles discussing the need for hydrostatic relief protection on piping where a liquid that gets blocked in could expand and rupture the pipe.  Yet it seems that each industry somehow feels the need or requirement does not apply to them.  OSHA specifically calls for the use of hydrostats in their...

Already, in less than 24 hours from when I posted the OSHRC decision on the BP Refinery, I have received over a dozen e-mails asking me “do I have to have U-1 forms for my pressure vessels?”.  There are not many PSM/RMP facilities that have not been dinged with one of these findings over the past 20 years.  So my response to each one is YES, you MUST have THE DATA on your pressure...

On March 8, 2010, the Secretary issued three citations to a refinery, alleging twenty serious, forty-two willful, and three other-than-serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (Act), 29 U.S.C. §§ 651, et seq. The Secretary issued the citations following an inspection conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at a refinery in Ohio. OSHA proposed...

For new processes, you must document both material and energy inputs and outputs of a process. For example, you would document the quantity of a regulated substance added to the process, the quantity consumed during the process, and the quantity that remains in the output. This requirement will not generally apply to storage processes.  CLICK HERE for the FAQ from EPA

A company has agreed to pay a $15,290 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) at its fertilizer facility. As part of its settlement agreement with EPA Region 7, the company will spend an additional $75,370 to complete a supplemental environmental project.  The settlement stems from an inspection that revealed the facility failed to develop and implement a Risk Management...

Work at a winery can expose individuals to life-threatening situations. When cleaning or emptying tanks, and checking the fermentation process, employees are sometimes directed to bodily enter a tank or place their head inside a tank. The air inside a tank or vat may not be sufficient to support life when gases such as carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide have displaced oxygen. If the air is not tested...

Is an employer required to record a work-related injury sustained by an employee which was treated by a reduction procedure performed on her dislocated ring finger. The employee had no broken bones, no medication, no splints, and no restrictions and returned to work immediately after the reduction of her ring finger. You want to know if this is considered first aid… … HomeRead More &r...