MultiVapor is a computer tool for estimating breakthrough times and service lives of air-purifying respirator cartridges manufactured to remove toxic organic vapors from breathed air. It can also be used for larger filters and for carbon beds of any size prepared for laboratory studies. MultiVapor replaces the program, Breakthrough, which performs the same function for only one organic vapor at all...

If you have ever walked the stairs of a highrise building or the halls of a large hotel you have seen a “Standpipe System”. Many industrial facilities have these systems in place as well.  In fact some state fire and building codes REQUIRE these systems be “installed”.  Notice I emphasised “installed”, as most were installed, but have not been maintained,...

One of EPA’s most often cited issues with a facilities Risk Management Plan (RMP) revolves around “updates to the plan”.  Most, but not all, know that the plan has to be updated every five years; but did you know there were other triggers that require a RMP to be updated more often than every five years.  Here are the changes that would REQUIRE an UPDATE to an RMP: …...

Does your facility have a standpipe system?  Does the facility test the hoses and nozzles on these systems annually?  Does the facility inspect them montly? BEFORE I even say anything, let me say my DISCLAIMER…check with your local fire department(s) AND your property conservation insurer BEFORE you remove the first hose or nozzle!  Now that I have said that, you will want to do...

In this article I would like to lay the foundation for future discussions on one of my favorite topics…Flammable Liquids.  I will try to explain flammable liquids at their very basic level.  There is MUCH MORE to learn about flammable liquids, but this will get us off to a good start with the fundamentals.  Let’s start by discussing the term Flash Point.  We could say...

We are never quite sure how these myths get started, but my team and I hear some doosee’s from time to time.  The “myth” I am going to discuss today is one we actually see more often than not.  We see this even in facilities that have a good grasp of their Hazardous Locations and of course we see it most often in facilities that are struggle with classifying thier hazardous...

Most of us know that OSHA requires us to retain our canceled PRCS Entry permits for one year to be able to do our annual review of our program, which is also an OSHA requirement.  However, and this is a HUGE “however,”…if the permit’s air monitoring section shows there was any exposure to a contaminant, that permit would fall under 1910.1020 retention requirements (e.g.,...

Anyone who has been involved in incident investigations will just smile and feel a lot of relief that your world is not so different than the safety professional down the street!  Although the video is slanted toward a QC type investigation, you will be able to relate to the LAME _ _ _ _ corrective actions in this “Top Ten List of Unacceptable Corrective Actions“.  See if you...

On June 20, 2009, an ammonia line ruptured during maintenance at a poultry processing plant in Robeson County, N.C., killing one employee and injuring several others. This accident should remind employers of the hazards associated with the use of anhydrous ammonia as a refrigerant at food processing plants. Click Here (.pdf) to see and print this 2-page Alert.  If you have NH3 on site, this is...

All too often, when doing a CS entry or rescue course, we are surprised by the number of entry supervisors who do not understand the major limitation of a combustible gas meter… the LEL Correction Factor. EVERY meter in use today will have this limitation! This is how it works… … HomeRead More »

What has changed in the definition of an IDLH atmosphere? NIOSH has removed the mention of the 30 minute time period, based on intraspecies variation factors. There is no mention of the 30-minutes in the new definition.  A little history about the IDLH designation… The concept of using respirators to protect workers in situations that are immediately dangerous to life or health was discussed...

A bit of info that many emergency responders do not know! A Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) can occur with non-flammable materials such as cryogenics like liquid Oxygen, Nitorgen, etc. All we need to have in place for a BLEVE to occur is a material with a high vapor pressure (thus a low BP), a pressurized container, and an external fire impinging on the container walls. Granted, a...