These are OSHA Top 10 Standards cited, but broke down into more detail by include the actual Top 5 sections of each standard that made the Top 10 list. … HomeRead More »

Two words that are almost always used synonymously in safety discussions. And to be blunt, these two words are light years apart in science. Take for example the act of flying on a commercial airline. … HomeRead More »

Some responders would tell you this was a “sucessful response”.  They stopped the leak and did not injury anyone in the effort; however, it is not too difficult to identify several things these responders could have done differently in their response.  Can you identify them?  How many did you identify?

  Accident No.: DCA05-MP001 Type of System: Hazardous liquid Accident Type: Pipeline rupture and leak with vapor cloud Location: 6 miles west of Kingman, Kansas Date: October 27, 2004 Time: 11:15 a.m. central daylight time Owner: Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. Facility: Magellan Ammonia Pipeline/Enid Lateral Operator: Enterprise Products Operating L.P. Fatalities/Injuries: None Damage/Clean-up...

Ever wondered what 10-15 tons of Anhydrous Ammonia looks like when it is released from a busted hose during unloading?  Wondered how big would the cloud be?  How dense is the cloud?  Does the cloud rise or fall to the ground?  Well here are some great shots showing us all these things. … HomeRead More »

Boiler safety 11 28 2011 abridged View more presentations from Bryan Haywood.

One of the most common errors made by HAZMAT personnel!  Can you see the mistake? … HomeRead More »

These pictures are the result of a SCBA Cylinder incident which happened on 6th of April 2008 at 2130 hrs in a Fire Station in XXXXXXXXX.Here’s what happened: (5 photos) … HomeRead More »

UPDATED on 6/23/2017   This study was conducted in conjunction with the Faculty of the Undergraduate College of Integrated Science and Technology, James Madison University, Virginia; the Harrisonburg (VA) Fire Department; and the Harrisonburg (VA) Rescue Squad HRS.  Although not done as a true research study, it was done as well as could be expected by a bunch of experienced FF’s and...

2015 UPDATE: Some of my refrigeration PSM buddies reminded me that the industry now has its own RAGAGEP for piping installation, ANSI/IIAR 4-2015, Installation of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems.  I do applaud the IIAR for their work in establishing this ANSI standard for the industry, but for those so happy to “correct me” I like to point out the following from...

Not a year goes by where I am teaching a HAZMAT or PSM course at a facility that has ammonia (NH3) where I am challenged on the fact that NH3 is explosive/flammable.  I stress that it takes 160,000 ppm of the gas for it to burn, but it WILL BURN when it reaches this level – all that is needed is an ignition source!  Of course, the only way anyone could be in 160,000 ppm of Ammonia gas...

Some interesting data put together each year by the Wisconsin Department of Public Health Services.  2009 is the most recent update to their data.  Here are the summaries: Since 1993, Wisconsin has had 768 uncontrolled ammonia releases, representing approximately 45 releases per year. 445 (58%) of Wisconsin’s ammonia releases involved refrigeration systems. A total...