The Chlorine Institute has updated its A, B, and C Kit manuals with some significant revisions.  Unfortunately, these manuals are no longer free to non-members, but if you utilize these kits in your emergency response program, they are a MUST-have.  Luckily they cost only $40.  Here is a peek at the B-Kit Manual revisions: … HomeRead More »

Today I saw our local Natural Gas service provider discussing installing an Excess Flow Valve with my neighbor.  So naturally, that caught my ear, so I mossed over to learn more.  It seems that most Natural Gas service providers are offering the installation of an Excess Flow Valve on the feed to homes.  Of course, they are NOT offering to install this valve for free.  In fact,...

It has become fashionable to claim that human error is implicated in 80-90 percent of all major accidents. While probably close to the truth, this statement adds very little to our understanding of how and why organizational accidents happen. In the first place, it could hardly be otherwise, given the range of human involvement in hazardous systems. Second, the term ‘human error’ conveys...

I have seen some toxic workplaces. Lessons learned: When things go bad, good people leave, eventually followed by people who thought they could change things but got buried because too many good people left. Those left are toxic people or hostages to their job (usually by their years of service and how much $ they would lose if they left). The good people are your canary.

The last article for my ESRWPs series.  As I have been focused on volt meters and their proper use, this last article will discuss the necessary maintenance on these meters.  Another reason why the meters need to be provided AND maintained by the employer.  Are the meters at your facility in preventive maintenance (PM) program? Using my favorite meter brand, I will share the maintenance...

Did you know that sulfuric acid (H2SO4) based batteries produce Hydrogen (H2) when charging? This is why OSHA requires ventilation (1910.178(g)(2) and “NO SMOKING” signs (1910.178(g)(10) in charging areas. And FYI… H2 is 16X’s lighter than air, so the exhaust needs to be in the roof- not even high up on the wall near the roof – the ROOF. And please use an intrinsically safe fan system rated for...

Earlier today, I shared my thoughts on a critical safety step that is often not part of LOTO periodic inspections involving qualified electrical workers.  That article spurred a conference call with a client this afternoon.  That discussion led to the next layer of the proverbial onion being peeled back… Who should be responsible for managing volt meters being used by qualified electrical...

Scenario: You’re out and about, and you come up on two workers working on a piece of equipment.  You stop and engage the two workers on their energy isolation for their work.  One of the workers operates the machine and has it locked out as part of his end-of-shift cleaning tasks.  The other worker is a maintenance worker and he is replacing the 480V motor on the machine. The Operator...

Absolutely they can.  In fact, this is the case in most businesses where we get called to assist with an accident investigation.  These are not SAFTENG clients, but rather a 1-off project to lead the investigation with a referral from a safety agency or a friend of a friend of a friend kind of arrangement.  We used to do dozens of these investigations each year, so yes, we saw a lot...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has notified the SBA Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) that OSHA intends to convene a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel (commonly known as an “SBREFA” panel) on a possible “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings” rule in the next several weeks. OSHA’s possible rule could apply to employers whose employees...

For something so many in our profession claim to not exist, it is amazing how five (5) dictionaries officially define it. There are even degrees one can get on the topic, and much research has been done on a topic that is supposedly not at play in an organization’s safety efforts.  I think most of us with ten or more years of experience at two different companies can walk into a business...

15 human error thoughts we need to consider during our next incident investigation and causal analysis: … HomeRead More »