The Final Rule for Permit-Required Confined Spaces was published in the Federal Register on January 14, 1993, and became effective on April 15, 1993. The standard is based on years of gathering information on confined space fatalities and on testimony about the hazards of confined spaces from all sectors of industry and labor. Because it applies to all of the general industry, a performance-oriented...

These two (2) videos from the Solvent Industry Association (SIA) in the United Kingdom and the European Solvents Industry Group (ESIG) are by far the best series of videos on the practice of bonding and grounding.  They can be found on the internet for non-members, but SAFTENG members can watch them below.  SPECIAL NOTE:  in Europe and the UK they the word “earthing” to represent...

Behavior is what people do and say—a means to an end. Behavior is an observable act that can be seen and heard, and it can be measured. Consistent behavior is necessary for consistent results. For example, a youth baseball coach cannot just shout at a 10-year-old pitcher from the dugout to “throw strikes.” The child may not know how and will become frustrated. To be effective, the coach must teach...

This is intended to be a high-level explanation of an assessment of the human contribution to risk, commonly known as the Human Reliability Assessment (HRA).There are two distinct types of HRA: qualitative assessments that aim to identify potential human failures and optimize the factors that may influence human performance, and quantitative assessments, which, in addition, aim to estimate the likelihood...

In the USA, our Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) allows for MINOR tasks that are ROUTINE, REPETITIVE, and INTEGRAL to the operation of the machinery to be done using ALTERNATIVE SAFETY MEASURES in lieu of Lockout/Tagout (LOTO).  These “alternative measures” include using a safety control system (e.g., interlock).  But one must read into OSHA’s Compliance...

  For the leading Authority on fires while fueling, visit Refueling Fires Developed by Fowler Associates, Inc. Subject: Fire at Salt Lake City station -Stay alert ! Pictures tell a story better than I ever could. Here are two pictures from a fire we had at one of our Company Operated Stores last Friday in Salt Lake City. It started from static electricity. The customer, a teenage girl, started...

  Impaired Driving Info DUI and NO Seatbelt Accident Scene Photos One Page Awareness Raisers used in 2007 Campaign What is Impaired Driving and What can we do about it? Tips for Party Givers Driving home the facts about Impaired Driving Driving home the facts about blood alcohol concentration Driving home the facts about ZERO tolerance How to spot an impaired driver I went to a party mom poem A pizza,...

This section is dedicated to all those workers doing SAFETY THE RIGHT WAY!  So many times we focus on the NEGATIVE SIDE of safety, leaving the most important side…POSITIVE FEEDBACK to those that practice safety to go un-noticed.  With the help of one of our subscribing Construction Company, I present to you Doing it RIGHT! 2005 Doing it Right! Trench Box Hobart Mixer Guarding 2004 Doing...

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If your company is planning an expansion, retro-fit, grass roots facilities, or simply modifying a process unit, and the process hazard analysis (PHA) indicates you need a safety instrumented system (SIS) as a protective layer, then you need to comply with ANSI/ISA S84.01. Why? Because in February 1996, the “Application of Safety Instrumented Systems for the Process Industries” was approved...

This was a new pressure vessel that failed during its hydro test following its fabrication.  The vessel’s Post Weld Heat Treatment was not properly conducted, when some parts of it did not reach the required temperature.  Coupled with a small hydrogen crack, the failed post weld heat treatment was sufficient to cause catastrophic failure while it was undergoing it hydro test. To understand...

This standard describes minimum practices and procedures to prevent worker exposure to dangerous safety and health hazards in a confined space. It also recognizes the dynamic character of confined spaces as they occur in construction. Thus, the standard and our enforcement focus on the employer’s whole program as conceived, documented and implemented as a primary safeguard for employees and on...