This week while doing an S&H audit Dennis and I came across a maintenance manager who moved us into the digital era (LOL)!  We had always measured the rise and run of stairs and then compared this data to Table D-1 in 1910.24.  This year Dennis handed down to me his Sears brand magnetic “angle finder” he used for his 30+ years in OSHA.  But this week, as we went to measure...

Facility has been cited for 13 safety and health violations by OSHA following an inspection at its manufacturing facility. Proposed fines total $62,000.  One REPEAT safety violation, with a penalty of $22,000, involves the employer failing to reduce the pressure in a compressed air device to less than 30 pounds per square inch when using it for cleaning. The facility was previously cited for this...

WARNING!  This video may be upsetting to some viewers.  Viewer discreation is advised.

Just two weeks ago we lost a dozen firefighters and speculation is there was no formal Incident Command set-up/communicated in the response (based on radio traffic from the scene and responders).  Here is another SIGNIFCANT INCIDENT involving a FULL Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) tanker truck being struck by a train.  Note the appartus placement of the responding agencies at an ACTIVE RELEASE scene!...

OSHA has cited the propane facility with 21 serious violations following a November 2012 fire that required three workers to be hospitalized and four workers to be treated and released. The plant inspection was expanded to include the national emphasis program on Process Safety Management Covered Chemical Facilities. Proposed penalties total $105,000.  The serious violations cited under the process...

With the recent catstrophe/tragedy in West, TX the politicians have been none stop in calling for more regulations to stop another such accident.  I have become senical in my aging process and have just about come to the conclusion that NO LAW can fully prevent another such tragedy; especially one written by lawyers in Washington, DC!  But the one common question that is being asked is “How...

The International Fire Code (IFC) is in use or adopted in 43 states, the District of Columbia, NYC, Guam and Puerto Rico.  To dig deeper and find out if your “Authority having Jurisdication” (AHJ) can enfore the IFC – CLICK HERE (pdf).

EPA inspected a food distribution warehouse in October 2012 that contained an ammonia refrigeration process.  The inspection found the following issues: … HomeRead More »

OSHA has cited dairy food company with 10 serious, two repeat and two other-than-serious violations. OSHA began an inspection in November 2012 under its Site Specific Targeting Program that directs enforcement resources to high-hazard workplaces, where high injury and illness rates occur, and the National Emphasis Program on facilities, covered under the Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous...

  Many THANKS to my NEWEST and RENEWING Corporate Partners in Safety… since 2004 since 2013 since 2008 since 2010 2013 Fatality Tracker Electrical 6 (2012 = 68) (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift 20 (2012 = 52) (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining* 25 (2012 = 92*)  (2011 = 248) (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) *no longer includes China accidents Explosions 43 (2012...

There has been much written about the Ammonimum Nitrate (AN) stored at the West Fertilizer facility in West, TX.  The investigation is still on-going; however, investigators have confirmed that AN was stored on site and it is their leading suspect in the explosion that killed a dozen emergency responders.  Last week the media focus shifted to how the state of TX has no state codes to control/oversee...