Respondent owns and operates a manufacturing facility, which produced, used, or stored more than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. During an October and December 2011 inspection EPA found the following issues, settling for $146,000… … HomeRead More »

The White House, Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release August 01, 2013 EXECUTIVE ORDER – IMPROVING CHEMICAL FACILITY SAFETY AND SECURITY By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:    Section 1. Purpose. Chemicals, and the facilities where they are manufactured,...

A common situation we find is that facilities struggle to understand how their “initial start-up” procedure for a new piece of process equipment can/will differ from their other start-up procedures for the equipment (e.g. normal, after a turnaround, after an emergency shutdown, etc.). Recently I have learned of a process used on galvanized condenser coils/tubes that will aid in the...

1-Bromopropane (1-BP) is a solvent that is used in degreasing, dry cleaning, spray adhesives, and aerosol solvents. Occupational exposure to 1-BP has been linked to neurological illnesses. Animal studies show that 1-BP may also cause cancer and reproductive disorders. Controls and personal protective equipment are available to protect workers from 1-BP exposure.  CLICK HERE (pdf) to download the...

This Coffee Break Training continues the second part of administrative tips on how to read and apply the model codes. … HomeRead More »

There is one small little sentence in 1910.119 (as well as Part 68) that is causing all kinds of heartburn. I like to call this requirement the “General Duty Clause” of process safety. To fully understand what this requirement entails we first have to understand what is meant by a standard being a “performance oriented” standard, which PSM (and RMP) is. A performance oriented...

THE DANGER Rushing, fatigue, frustration, complacency, anger, etc.—all of these emotions and states can contribute to making critical mistakes.  A person who’s normally a safe driver becomes a different person once he sleeps through the alarm and is now running late for work.  Suddenly the good habits disappear and are replaced by tailgating, cursing, and speeding. Accidents are most likely...

\When two or more persons are given a task to perform, communication is usually an important aspect.  Without a clear plan and effective communication execution of the task may be more difficult and will put persons at risk of being hurt.  Effective communication means that which is clear and understood.The communication may take the form of hand signals and/or verbal indication.  Some...

Electricity is something that cannot be seen and, yet, it is the most useful power controlled by man. Although useful, it can be very destructive power to both man and material if the proper precautions are not taken. The danger is always there, and we must know what means of protection can be used to eliminate the hazards. Even the seasoned electricians need to remember basic rules of electrical safety....

Ref: Carl Potter and Deb Potter, 3 Myths about Workplace Injuries “You cannot create an injury-free workplace”.  It is shocking how many people believe that no workplace can be made free of injuries.  Certainly situations change over time, sometimes even very quickly, making it difficult to identify and control hazards. It requires discipline and diligence to recognize and mitigate every...

LEARNING defensive driving techniques and driving defensively could prove the difference between life and death on the roads, but how many motorists actually know the limits of their vehicle and can handle a critical situation????  Aspects of driving such as proper driving posture, braking, lane changes and reactive manoeuvres, recognizing and controlling skidding and vehicle maintenance are generally...