Many THANKS to my NEWEST and RENEWING Corporate Partners in Safety… since 2008 since 2010 since 2005 since 1/2013 2013 Fatality Tracker Electrical 7 (2012 = 68) (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift 14 (2012 = 52)  (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining* 23 (2012 = 92*)  (2011 = 248) (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) *no longer includes China accidents Explosions...

One has to wonder if the 2 beer kegs were full before they built this thing!?!?!?! 

This is a neat video and can be used by both summer grilling enthusiast and process safety professionals!  It shows us how propane cylinders are made and even includes how they are Post-weld Heat Treated (PWHT) and why!

There are several codes and standards that call for hydrostatic relief valves to be installed in all segments of pipe that can be isolated. For example, the following two OSHA standards state the following… 1910.111(b)(9)(ix) A hydrostatic relief valve shall be installed between each pair of valves in the liquid ammonia piping or hose where liquid may be trapped so as to relieve into the atmosphere...

A large food manufacturer has received one of the largest, if not the largest, settlement agreement with EPA regarding their Risk Management Plans at 23 facilties in four (4) states. The total fines in the agreement consist of $3.9 million in civil and over $300,000 in supplemental environmental projects (SEP) that involves buying emergency response equipment for eight (8) fire departments local to...

A new revision (dated March 13, 2013) to the CHLOREP Bulletin related to modified C-Kit application instructions now titled “Modified Emergency Kit “C” Application for Certain Dual Valve Systems” is now available. This revision accounts for the completion of the NextGen service trial, a new dual valve design model that will soon be available for service and the publishing of new CI Pamphlet 168, Guidelines...

Area plans are often brought into action when facilities are unable to handle spills on their own. Under the authority of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, EPA initially established 13 Areas covering the U.S. and convened Area Committees comprised of federal, state, and local government agencies to prepare contingency plans for the designated areas. The Area Contingency Plans include detailed information...

This was a Program 2 Inspection and the facility had toluene 2,4 diisocyanate and toluene 2,6 diisocyanate in quantities exceeding 10,000 pounds during calendar years 1999 through 2010. Respondent thus maintained toxic substances in quantities exceeding the threshold quantities under the Chemical Accident Pollution Prevention rule. At and prior to the time of inspection the processes subjected it to...

Project to replace the generator was in progress. Accident occurred when they were rigging out the old generator stator (weighs 500 tons,  2x heavier than the Monticello generator stator). Failure occurred when over the railroad bay and the stator dropped 55 feet. Not sure exactly what failed but you can see in the bottom pictures that the stator rotated ~135 degrees before it landed. Have been...

The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is warning of a telephone scam by a company identifying itself as “U.S. Federal Labor Compliance.” Wyoming business owners have been the targets of the phone calls. The recipients of the fraudulent calls are told that they need to purchase an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance package for $249.50. If the purchase...

WARNING – Poster, Log 300 and Safety Program SCAM!  Maryland Occupational Safety & Health (MOSH) has received several inquiries from employers around the state concerning intimidating solicitations for: MOSH Poster about Safety and Health Rights,  Forms to complete the Log 300, and a required “canned” Safety and Health Program These solicitations pressure the employer...

Whenever I do LOTO training I always mention some of the more “interesting” methods used to control hazardous energy and in each class I always get accused of fudging the truth, as “no one can be that stupid”.  Well here is a 2013 LOTO citation from OSHA that is proof positive that we still have a ways to go until everyone takes LOTO as seriously as us… … HomeRead...