SUMMARY: Recently, a DOT-3AL cylinder made of aluminum alloy 6351-T6 ruptured while being filled. The purpose of this notice is to alert owners, users, and other persons responsible for the maintenance of certain cylinders made of aluminum alloy 6351-T6 of potential safety problems and to advise them to follow the precautionary measures outlined in this notice. Also, RSPA requests information on other...

There have been several well-documented incidents during the past 10 years where SCBA failure may have been a contributing factor in the deaths or injuries of firefighters¹. These incidents, coupled with a recognition of the importance of self-contained breathing apparatus to firefighter safety, prompted the United States Fire Administration to undertake this study to address any operations trends...

OSHA has cited a Louisiana chemical facility with 10 serious and one other-than-serious violations related to OSHA’s process safety management standard (PSM) with proposed penalties totaling $67,000.   OSHA conducted the inspection under the PSM National Emphasis Program (NEP).  The ten serious violations include failing to provide accurate process safety information for P&IDs,...

The answers to the top questions I get about the DOT ERG Booklets: 1) there are 3,233 Hazardous Materials listed 2) there are 465 TIH/PIH Hazardous Materials listed 3) there are 127 Water Reactive Hazardous Materials listed 4) there are still 172 Guides listed in 2012.

A fully wrapped composite SCBA cylinder catastrophically failed  while stored inside a fire truck parked inside a fire house.  Although no one was hurt, the incident caused significant damage to the fire truck and minor damage to the fire truck parked next to it.  Extensive analysis of the failed cylinder showed that it was caused by stress corrosion cracking resulting from exposure...

UPDATED 10/22/2019 with new images and new explanations. UPDATE:  Please see my June 2017 posting PHMSA’s New Cylinder “Special Permit” authorizes an extension of the 15-year service life of certain carbon fiber reinforced aluminum-lined cylinders (DOT-CFFC)   In general, composite-reinforced cylinders used with self- contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) all have a...

  MANY THANKS to my NEW & RENEWING “Partners in Safety” for their support! since 2008 since 2008 since 2012 since 2012 2012 Fatality Tracker Electrical 59 (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment 45 (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining 63 (2011 = 248) (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) Explosions 219 (2011 = 218) (2010 = 246) (2009 = 302) Cranes 37 (2011...

 

EPA has announced two Clean Air Act settlements with a natural gas processor in which the company has agreed to pay a total of $316,000 in penalties for violating Risk Management Plan provisions at natural gas plants in Casper and Douglas, Wyoming. In addition, the company has agreed to establish new operating procedures, improve equipment maintenance, and perform integrity tests on pressure vessels...

MANY THANKS to my NEW & RENEWING “Partners in Safety” for their support! since 2008 since 2008 since 2012 since 2012 2012 Fatality Tracker Electrical 59 (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment 45 (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining 63 (2011 = 248) (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) Explosions 215 (2011 = 218) (2010 = 246) (2009 = 302) Cranes 36 (2011 =...

One of my many “CHEAT SHEETS” I use… LIQUEFIED GAS CONVERSION CHART Product Name Cubic Feet / Pound Pounds / Gallon Cubic Feet / Gallon Acetylene UN/NA: 1001 CAS: 514-86-2 14.70 4.90 72.03 Air UN/NA: 1002 CAS: n/a 13.30 7.29 96.96 Ammonia Anhydrous UN/NA: 1005 CAS: 7664-41-7 20.78 5.147 106.95 Argon UN/NA: 1006 CAS: 7440-37-1 9.71 11.63 112.92 Butane UN/NA: 1075 CAS: 106-97-8 6.34...