A lot work has been done in the past twenty years to raise awareness and understanding of the risks associated with combustible dusts.  Between NFPA and the IFC, we have some excellent resources to design, operate and maintain areas where combustible dusts may be present.  In the 2021 IFC, the “Critical Depth Layer” was re-defined/quantified… … HomeRead More &...

To improve safety performance, coherent action is required in three (3) areas: 1) technical aspects, 2) safety management, and 3) human and organizational factors These different “pillars” all influence the safety culture. It should be emphasized that, in any given company, safety priorities have undergone several phases of chronological development, with each new area of concern being added to the...

On November 28, 1999, a blockage occurred in the South Teal Unit. The blockage or plug occurred somewhere in the recycle waste line on the second level of South Teal. This line brings crude Teal with excess aluminum to T-103, which feeds back to the reactors. During the night shift, they were able to blow the line from T-105 to the control valve, which left the blockage within about 20 feet of T-103. On...

A recent Coast Guard investigation involving a fire and subsequent loss of propulsion on board an inspected vessel serves as a reminder of safety issues caused by condensate forming in airlines. During the investigation, an underlying issue was discovered that caused condensate to form in airlines that supplied compressed air to the vessel’s air-operated engine throttle and clutch control systems....

If you’re an EHS pro, you have certainly seen these devices.  They can add a level of safety for that loss of primary containment (LOPC) incidents or, in some cases, overfill events. image source: eagle manufacturing But these “Containment Pallets” come with some environmental limitations that are required for their safe use… … HomeRead More »

The most common RAGAGEP for pipe labeling is ASME A13.1, Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems.  It is referenced in dozens of hazardous material codes, from ICC to NFPA.  In the ICC codes, specifically the International Fire Code (IFC), there is an interesting twist to the requirements for “Compressed Gases (Chapter 53).  ASME is mentioned as the RAGAGEP of choice to...

One of the reasons I use the International Fire Code (IFC) for my hazardous materials code over OSHA standards is that the IFC gets updated every three (3) years.  God only knows when OSHA may address lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries.  Also, the IFC and NFPA tend to be closely aligned in their design and practices expectations.  Chapter 3, Section 320 is new in 2024, and it covers: Permits Fire...

This weekend, we witnessed football helmets failing upon impact due to the frigid temperatures.  Sadly, these failures were accepted, and play continued!  But this brings about the logical question: How cold can it get before my hard hat (HH) fails when struck by a falling object? Most HH manufacturers will advertise the maximum temperature at which their HH will provide protection, but they...

Safe and reliable performance is a process to be guided, not an outcome to be managed. Safety is wisdom. We create safety, or more importantly, we co-create safety in the RELATIONSHIP between workers, planners, managers, and the tasks being accomplished in real-time. None of those components mentioned above involves the scoring and tracking of work outcomes. What matters are the RELATIONSHIPS each...

The 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) has a new Pressure Releif Valve (PRV) discharge requirement that is an interesting desing requirement.  The code has required the PRV “Discharge to a termination point that is readily visible and observable by the building occupants” for many years.  But now, the 2024 edition requires… (emphasis by me) … HomeRead More...

We see this from time to time: someone drills a hole in the flammable liquids storage cabinet (a major no-no) and runs a power cord inside the cabinet (another no-no), and this electrical device can pose as an ignition source.  So, the 2024 IFC added the following requirement.  NOTE:  This requirement should NEVER be needed, as we should NEVER drill into our UL/FM-approved cabinet,...

As we have discussed, the 2024 IFC is more friendly towards these “flammable refrigerants.”  One such way the code is friendly towards these flammable gases is in 5003.8.3.5.4 Flammable gas… (emphasis by me) … HomeRead More »