I have been working with several clients who are on a Hydrogen Fuel journey. It is fun to get deep into process safety protection schemes regarding NFPA 2 and ASME B31.12 and see the similarities and extra code requirements when dealing with large H2 gas systems. One of the interesting items regarding H2 piping is a “Leakage Survey,” which applies to “Industrial Plants.” There...

Occasionally, we see some pipe labeling requirements that exceed those found in ASME A13.1.  NFPA 2, 2023 has a few: (emphasis by me) … HomeRead More »

Hazardous chemicals which are carried on transportation vehicles, including rail cars, can be subject to EPCRA reporting when they are not under active shipping papers and have reached the consignee identified on the shipping papers. See House Report No. 99-962 (Committee of Conference), October 3, 1986. 99 Cong. Conf. H. Report 962, at 311, which clarifies that the exemption under Section 327 relating...

An experienced electrician checking conductors at an industrial facility unknowingly accessed an energized breaker bucket inside a substation and shorted phase to phase on the line side of the energized breaker switch at 347/600V. This resulted in an electrical shock, creating an arc flash. The worker suffered first and second-degree burns to their wrist, hand, and face.   CLICK HERE  

Respondent is the facility’s owner and operator. The EPA inspected the Facility from July 27 to July 29, 2021, to determine the Respondent’s compliance with Section 112(r) of the CAAmand 40 C.F.R. Part 68 (“the Inspection”).  Operations at Respondent’s Facility include, among others, repackaging chlorine for utilization in sodium hypochlorite bleach manufacturing. The Facility also uses...

At 8:04 a.m. on May 11, 2023, an employee working for an oil and gas support services company was found dead. On 5/10/23, the night before, the employee had instructed his coworkers from other contractors to go home, and he would finish the job. This was the last time anyone had spoken to the employee until he was found deceased. The employee had been pressure testing a pipe with nitrogen. The pipe...

At 8:00 a.m. on May 8, 2014, an employee was inspecting fire extinguishers. The fire extinguisher discharged and struck the employee in the head, killing him. OSHA Case File    

On May 13, 2020, Employee #1 and Employee #2 were working to pressurize portable fire extinguishers. At some point, the extinguisher being worked on by the Employees exploded. … HomeRead More »

On October 16, 2023, Employee #1 worked for a construction gas & oil support contractor. Coworkers were cutting and welding an eye-lifting plate on a compressor skid. Miscellaneous petroleum products had been allowed to accumulate on, in, and around the compressor skid area, creating a fire hazard. … HomeRead More »

It is good that we are finding fewer and fewer facilities without pressure testing and leak testing records on their process piping.  But now comes the difficult question: Is pressure and leak testing required after maintenance or alterations on piping systems? So, most companies will have their newly installed piping pressure tested and leak tested by the contractor who performed the installation. ...

Six people were confirmed dead in a boiler explosion at a wood factory in the southern province of Dong Nai on May 1, 2024.  The accident also injured five others. The provincial People’s Committee has offered condolences and financial support to the victims’ families (20 million VND or 789 USD for each fatality and 10 million VND for each injury). The incident occurred at around 8:30...

In the world of industrial safety, we are not at a loss for the desire to try new things. Many consulting companies are waiting to sell us their shiny gadgets. One of these latest crazes is called “SIF”—Serious Injuries and Fatalities. The concept behind this model is based on the progress many have made in reducing their recordable injuries of lesser severity; however, the risk of a significant...