My training PowerPoint for maintaining, testing, and inspecting chemical hoses (including unloading/loading hoses) per my favorite RAGAGEP. SAFTENG members can download below. … HomeRead More »

      This is a HIGH-LEVEL overview of the many types and levels of energy isolation means and methods.  This is not widely recognized in the USA, but those businesses advanced in energy isolation/control plans use this approach. The key to this success is to incorporate these methods into process designs.  Members can download the ppt file below. … HomeRead More &r...

  Members can download my HIGH-LEVEL overview of what a PTW process should encompass.  All work permits should fit into this mini-management system. Members can download the ppt file below. … HomeRead More »

I have been writing about it since 2022, when OSHA said they wanted to revise its HAZCOM standard (1910.1200) to align with Revision 7 of the GHS standard.  Remember, the current HAZCOM standard is based on Rev. 3 of the GHS.  Now the 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) will recognize the new Categories of Flammable gases. FLAMMABLE GAS. A material that is a gas at 68°F (20°C) or less at 14.7...

HIGHER FLAMMABILITY   A3 R-50, R-170, R-290 R-600a, R-441a, R-1270 B3 R-1140 LOWER FLAMMABILITY   A2 R-142b, R-152a B2 R-30, R-40, R-611, R-717     A2L HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze NO FLAME PROPAGATION   A1 R-11 – R-14, R-22, R-113, R-114, R-115, R-134A, R-410A, R-449B, R-1234zd B1 R-10, R-21, R-123, R-764   LOWER TOXICITY HIGHER TOXICITY   A2L flammable refrigerants...

Today, we get a glimpse of the key changes to the 2024 International Fire Code (IFC): … HomeRead More »

A state Fire Marshal published their Top 20 Violations.  Many of these are learning opportunities:   Building Exterior Address – Address numbers should be plainly visible from the street side of the property. Fire Lanes – Fire lanes are designated by the Fire Code Official. Signage for fire lanes must contain the verbiage in the City’s Ordinance: “No Stopping, Standing, Parking, Fire Lane.”...

A useful baseline for any business that is in the charging and storage of batteries.   Storage Batteries Ohio Administrative Code (4123:1) Effective: September 1, 2023 (A) Battery charging areas will be designated for that purpose. (B) Employees will be instructed that: (1) When charging batteries, acid will be poured into water; water will not be poured into acid; (2) When charging batteries,...

It is unfortunate that the phrase “human error” has become virtually meaningless through over-use and that it is usually interpreted to mean that the person at the “sharp end” was at fault by committing some form of error or violation.  It is easy to be misled and to believe that human errors arise because of carelessness, inattention, incompetence, or reckless rule-breaking...

A chicken business processes poultry on two machines called eviscerators at its Mississippi facility. On May 31, 2021, an employee tasked with cleaning chicken parts and viscera from the eviscerators and areas around them suffered fatal injuries when he was caught in one of the machines. Following an inspection and investigation by Compliance Safety and Health Officer Patrick Whavers and Jermaine Davis,...

WOW, my article earlier this week on the flaws of the TRIR formula stirred a passionate debate among several SAFTENG members/clients/friends.  But from that debate, they now can see what their future safety metrics could look like.  I always get the following response (and it is a very legitimate response)… If measuring the TRIR and DART are so flawed, what should we measure in their...