The potential impact of the use of compressed air for the removal of residual metalworking fluids on health was investigated using a test chamber approach followed by a workplace study. The former had the advantage in that the background levels of particles could be reduced significantly. The greatest risk was found to be dermal exposure due to large droplets of MWF coating the worker’s torso and arms....

Since 2003, the International Fire Code has offered an “alternative” to complying with all the special hazard chapters of the “code”; it’s called the Performance-Based Design Alternative (PBDA).  This alternative was intended to provide some relief to facilities that are already doing PSM/RMP style activities for their hazardous material(s) and to provide an...

The management system required under Subpart A of 40 CFR Part 68 is essentially a system defined by facility managers for integrating the implementation of the risk management program elements and assigning responsibility for that implementation (58 FR 54196; October 20, 1993).  The extent of the management system will depend on the size and complexity of the source.  At many small...

Field-expedient protection includes steps taken to provide immediate protection of personnel/materiel and to enhance protection of mission-essential facilities in the event of an incident. These procedures and planning factors are often included in emergency-action discussions of “protection in place” when it is required to sustain critical operations through an event or key infrastructure...

The International Fire Code has another version of OSHA’s and EPA’s General Duty Clause. It is 5001.3 Performance-based design alternative. The code contains 18 elements that very closely mirror OSHA’s PSM and EPA’s RMP requirements, but the BIG DIFFERENCE is that the code makes no mention of quantities/thresholds! The rule applies to all hazardous materials, including those...

Often times we get so involved with meeting OSHA and EPA regulations that it is easy to loose site of the State Fire and Hazardous Material codes.  In some states these codes can be even more stringent that OSHA and EPA process safety requirements!  PLEASE keep in mind, each state will have their OWN SET of fire and HAZMAT codes, but in this article I will be using the Ohio Fire & Hazardous...

EPA issued a Process Safety Alert in 2007 in response to several investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) which involved the failure of excess flow valves (EFV).   While EFVs are in extensive service and have prevented numerous pipe or hose breaks from becoming much more serious incidents, experience has shown that in some cases the EFV did not perform...

Something tells me this may be breaking a few rules!!!

A preliminary total of 4,609 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2011, down from a final count of 4,690 fatal work injuries in 2010, according to results from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rate of fatal work injury for U.S. workers in 2011 was 3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE)...

The information in this report was collected by staff in the North Carolina Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) Program. Ammonia releases in North Carolina have resulted in injuries, hospitalizations, and workplace evacuations. Some examples of ammonia releases in NC include: … HomeRead More »

Date of Incident: 12th September 2012 Time of Incident: App. 5.15am Location: Oil and Gas Construction Project A fatal incident occurred involving a Non-Destructive Test (NDT) personnel. The deceased was electrocuted while adjusting the position of portable lighting pole connected with trailing cable to distribution board which is 50 meters away.  Preliminary finding shows that there...