In 2011 EPA inspected a national company that distributes ammonia and found several concerns that were eventually addressed in a settlement agreement.  One of the business’s facilities is about a tenth of a mile from a residential neighborhood, and even closer to other public businesses. The way the facility was operating, according to EPA, if an ammonia leak occurred when the...

This is a MUST SEE video for those serious about emergency response!  There was much interest in the I-10 vent and burn video I posted several months ago and thus I received hundreds of request for more information.  As I said then, I am NOT a V&B expert and have seen only two in my lifetime.  The I-10 video is about as good of look as any of us will ever get and now Transport Canada...

Question 1: Do derailment response operations fall under paragraph (q) of the HAZWOPER standard?Question 2: Are the members of a crew responsible only for clearing and/or re-railing train cars during an emergency response operation considered skilled support personnel? Is there a required level of training for personnel who direct skilled support personnel?Question 3: Are earth moving and collecting...

(CORRECTED on 1/3/13 – it appears that the hazardous atmosphere (reported to be oxygen deficient) may have occurred outside the fermentation tank being prepared for maintenance, but within the “room” (CLICK HERE for article referencing “room”) where the tank(s) is located.  I have changed the classification to OXYGEN DEFICIENCY FATALITY until I know otherwise....

  http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/coffee-break/cb_fp_2012_49.pdf

  http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/coffee-break/cb_fp_2012_52.pdf

  http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/coffee-break/cb_fp_2013_1.pdf

In order to protect the public from boiler and pressure vessel explosions, guidelines must be in place to ensure proper construction, installation, inspection, operation, maintenance, alterations, and repairs. However, these guidelines do little to protect the public unless they are mandated by law.  In order to encourage the development of essential safety laws in jurisdictions that have...

OSHA has cited the chemical manufacturer with 12 serious violations at the chemical manufacturer’s Nitro facility after a July investigation initiated following the death of a worker performing sandblasting activities.  During the sandblasting activities, the airline for a supplied air hood was hooked up to a nitrogen gas line and the worker became unconscious. The serious violations...

PHMSA is issuing this Advisory Bulletin to inform owners and operators of gas transmission pipelines that if the pipeline pressure exceeds maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) plus the build-up allowed for operation of pressure-limiting or control devices, the owner or operator must report the exceedance to PHMSA on or before the fifth day following the date on which the exceedance occurs. If...

I failed a Health and Safety course at work today.  One of the questions was:  “In the event of a fire, what steps would you take?” “Really big ones” was apparently the wrong answer.