MANY THANKS to my NEW & RENEWING “Partners in Safety” for their support!   since 2012  since 2011 since 2012 since 2012   2012 Fatality Tracker Electrical             55 (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift Mobile Equipment 40 (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining 51 (2011 = 248) (2010 = 480)...

At 7:17 a.m., on August 22, 2003, an Amerigas Corporation (Amerigas) cargo tank semitrailer arrived at the AK Steel Corporation (AK Steel) facility in Middletown, Ohio. The driver pulled the vehicle up to the fill location and helped an AK Steel employee hook up to the fittings for a plant storage tank. According to the driver, about 7:40 a.m., the AK Steel employee began transferring anhydrous ammonia,...

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Recent reports published by the National Academies Press provide conclusions and recommendations for improving acute exposure guideline level (AEGL) documents for several chemicals and chemical classes. AEGLs were developed by the National Advisory Council to provide values with which to assess acute adverse health effects for extremely hazardous substances (EHSs). … HomeRead More »

PLEASE HEED THE WARNING – this video is CCTV footage showing four workers in China moving scaffolding and comes into contact with High Voltage electrical line.  Much of this video has been cut out as it is not necessary to showing burning bodies to demonstrate the dangers of electricity.  A search of the Internet will provide the full 12 minutes. … HomeRead More »

 

UPDATED on 9/2/12… Is there an OSHA PSM or EPA RMP requirement that liquid ammonia piping/equipment that can trap the liquid be equipped with a proper type and sized releif device or can a “qualified refrigeration technician” take the place of a relief device?  This question has been debated within the refrigeration industry PSM/RMP circles for the past 20 years; yet in...

Last year, we came across a very interesting LOTO practice that we completely disagreed with, but we were the only ones in the room who were not in agreement, so I think we may need to be “calibrated” in our LOTO expectations!  I am not saying I will ever agree with this practice at a facility I am managing, but we were at a VPP site, and the safety professionals were truly world-class...

Those who deal with OSHA’s PSM and EPA’s RMP regulations on a daily basis know all about the 3-year audit schedule we are required to maintain; but what many professionals responsible for PSM/RMP compliance may not know, is there are as many BAD audits done each year as there are GOOD audits.  Sadly, we get proposal request for BAD audits on a monthly basis and although it is tough to walk away...

OSHA has cited a natural gas producer for one willful and seven serious PSM violations following an explosion and fire that severely burned a worker. OSHA began its investigation Feb. 29 at the company’s facility which specializes in the production of liquid natural gas through a cryogenic process. The incident occurred while employees were restarting the process. Cryogenic liquids were improperly...

  2012 Fatality Tracker Electrical             53 (2011 = 81) (2010 = 90) (2009 = 100) Forklift/Manlift 39 (2011 = 84) (2010 = 110) (2009 = 88) Mining 51 (2011 = 248) (2010 = 480) (2009 = 586) Explosions 181 (2011 = 218) (2010 = 246) (2009 = 302) Cranes 35 (2011 = 50) (2010 = 50) (2009 = 82) Falls 72 (2011 = 123) (2010 = 139) (2009 = 172)...