This article is meant to provide some guidance to mechanical refrigeration operators (e.g. ammonia refrigeration processes) as to when a “pressure test” is required and when a “leak test” is required and what are the specifics that have to be met in order to comply.  Not having performed a “pressure test” on field erected piping BEFORE the introduction of anhydrous...

OSHA has cited a chemical plant with 12 serious, one repeat and one other-than-serious violations for exposing workers to multiple safety hazards while producing organic chemicals. OSHA’s Houston North Area Office initiated an inspection of the plant in January after receiving an employee complaint, and later expanded the inspection under the agency’s process safety management national...

The video discusses the four main components of inherently safer design as identified by the NAS study. They are substitute, minimize, moderate and simplify and are described as: 1) Substitute: replacing one material with another that is less hazardous; 2) Minimize: reducing the amount of hazardous material in the process; 3) Moderate: using less hazardous process conditions such as...

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Earlier this year, the US EPA cited a company for not having trained staff on-site at all times the Extremely Hazardous Substance (EHS) or Highly Hazardous Chemical (HHC) is on-site in quantities that exceed the Risk Management Plan threshold.  The case (Click Here for my summary of the case) involved an ammonia distributor.  The only time trained personnel were on site was when a truck was...

There are only two (2) different types of HUMAN FAILURES: ERRORS (Inadvertent) NON-COMPLIANCE (VIOLATIONS) (Deliberate) A HUMAN ERROR is an action or decision that was not intended, involved a deviation from an accepted standard, and led to an undesirable outcome. A NON-COMPLIANCE (VIOLATION) is a deliberate deviation from a rule or procedure. … HomeRead More »

ASME VIII, M-11 INSTALLATION OF SAFETY AND SAFETY RELIEF VALVES Spring loaded safety and safety relief valves normally should be installed in the upright position with the spindle vertical. Where space or piping configuration preclude such an installation, the valve may be installed in other than the vertical position provided that: (a) the valve design is satisfactory for such position; (b) the media...

MANY THANKS to my NEW & RENEWING “Partners in Safety” for their support! since 2009 since 2012 since 2012 2012 Fatality Tracker Electrical             37 (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment 33 (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining 42 (2011 = 248) (2010 = 480) (2009...

Although this video is for the Mining Industry, LOTO practices ring true in EVERY INDUSTRY!  The video is short (30 seconds) and to the point, BUT I AM WARNING anyone who is upset easily to NOT view this video.  Even though it is FAKE, some may find it upsetting.

The following is a story about a mining operation. It is in all rights and intentions a fictional one, but the subject matter addressed in this story was taken from thirty five years experience in the mining industry. There was a mining operation that had good production, low cost and once in a while they would have a lost time accident. When they had a lost time accident the mine manager would call...

A toothpaste factory had a problem: they sometimes shipped empty boxes, without the tube inside. This was due to the way the production line was set up, and people with experience in designing production lines will tell you how difficult it is to have everything happen with timings so precise that every single unit coming out of it is perfect 100% of the time. Small variations in the environment (which...