You’re eyes do not deceive you!  That is a truck mounted manlift that has been removed from the truck and moditifed.  I think somone has been watching too many transformer movies!

In the past few decades many things have changed in the world of Hazardous Materials and many of these changes DIRECTLY IMPACT our process safety efforts and our PSM/RMP compliance.  The debate will continue as to where DOT stops and OSHA begins when it comes to compliance coverage regarding loading and unloading Hazardous Materials, but this article is more about process safety and what we can...

One problem that seems to run wild across all businesses is DOT’s “25 feet and in line of sight” rule for unloading/loading hazardous materials.  Just this year (September & November 2012) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued LOIs on the matter, reaffirming their expectation in regards to this rule.  The letters stated… …...

Steaming railcars and tanker trucks is a very common practice in many industries; however, the hazards of doing so it not widely known nor understood.  Much like we cover “TOO MUCH TEMP” in our process hazards analysis, a similar analysis may be called for to analyze the practice of applying a heat source (e.g. steam or hot oil) to a railcar and/or tank truck.  We should consider...

Earlier this year I wrote about the risks in using “truck drivers” as your HAZMAT Attendant, as well as using the carrier’s hose for your loading/unloading activities.  I have also posted several “Safety advisiories” from state and federal agencies regarding the mis-use of transfer hoses.  Many of you appreciated my bluntness and brining the concerns to your...

Christmas through the eyes of an Ohio State Trooper… Our emergency responders deserve a BIG THANK YOU during the holiday season as many see some horrific things that impact them for the rest of their lives.  Too often, they have to deliver the worst news anyone could ever imagine.  We can do them a favor by using designated drivers and BUCKLING UP as this will make their jobs much easier....

Earlier this year I wrote about the EPA Safety Alert regarding having high expectations of an Excess Flow Valve being a reliable safeguard to stop an uncontrolled flow of a HHC/EHS.  This article is another example of how these valves should NOT be considered a safeguard and most certainly should NOT be the sole layer of protection for excess flow from a leaking hose/pipe.  About 3:45 a.m....

A rat looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package. What food might it contain? He was aghast to discover that it was a rat trap. Retreating to the farmyard the rat proclaimed the warning; “There is a rat trap in the house, a rat trap in the house!” The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, “Excuse me, Mr. Rat, I can tell this...

This week OSHA issued citations to a steel mill involving Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) and the one citation that caught my eye revolved around a “group lockbox” situation.  The citation reads “On and before 6/18/2012, the employer did not ensure that authorized employees used a personal lockout device to lock the group lockout box. Each authorized employee had a universal key for opening...

    Many THANKS to my newest and RENEWING Corporate Partners in Safety… since 2007 since 2012 since 2012 since 2012 2012 Fatality Tracker Electrical 67 (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment 52 (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining 85 (2011 = 248) (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) Explosions 239 (2011 = 218) (2010 = 246) (2009...

What GAO FoundOSHA’s process for accrediting Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL) is lengthy due to the scope of staff members’ responsibilities and unclear application procedures for accreditation. Among the 13 recently approved applications, OSHA took between 1 and 5 years to make accreditation decisions. All of these applications took much longer to approve than OSHA’s...

James Hodgson once said: “I’ve never had any ambitions; only enthusiasms.”  As the nation’s 12th Secretary of Labor, he leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in Occupational Safety and Health.  Under his leadership as Secretary of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Nixon in 1972. “Safety was extremely important...