Respondent owns and operates a cheese manufacturing facility. On March 22, 2022, EPA performed an inspection of the Facility to evaluate compliance with CERCLA Section 103, EPCRA Sections 304-312, and CAA Section 112(r). Based upon the information gathered during the Inspection and subsequent investigation, EPA determined that Respondent violated certain provisions of CERCLA, EPCRA, and the CAA. ALLEGED...

On August 23, 2023, an employee was troubleshooting an unscrambler machine malfunction. The employee walked around to the bottom of the support frame of the machine, near two parallel drive chains. A coworker restarted the machine, and the employee was pulled into the machine by the drive chains. The employee was killed. Source: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=169...

This “process” must be in place within any SMS Incident Management Element, including a Process Safety Management System.  This process is used for ALL UNPLANNED events, not just EHS-related events.  Although this process appears simple, it can be full of challenges and very error-prone, eroding trust and credibility. There can be variations in each step of this process. ...

On May 23, 2023, @ 9:00 a.m. Employee #1 and Employee #2, both maintenance workers for a petroleum refinery, were troubleshooting an automated valve in the “Prime G Unit.” Flammable gasoline/hydrocarbons in the piping and flange portion of the automated valve were released, causing an explosion, and fire. … HomeRead More »

OSHA issued $290,358 in proposed penalties following an August 2023 explosion at a paint factory in Garland, TX. One employee was injured in the explosion at the factory. OSHA issued one repeat and eight serious citations. The repeat citation was a $161,310 proposed penalty. The proposed penalties for the eight other citations are $16,131 each. … HomeRead More »

I want to thank Marcin Nazaruk for sharing this report with his LinkedIn connections.  The document below is a MUST READ and DIGEST for all safety professionals, but certainly for those who manage high-risk workplaces.  Equinor – the Norwegian Oil and Gas Company, with associated companies such as ConocoPhillips, Vår, or Aker BP, as part of their “Always Safe” initiative,...

When a person responds as if the worker has become stupid, that response is more about the organization than the worker in question We must battle the need to believe that when a worker has some type of bad outcome, that adverse outcome happened because the worker became momentarily incompetent. Our thinking is driven by a bias toward bad things happening because someone did something bad. The bias...

When a person responds as if the worker has become stupid, that response is more about the organization than the worker in question We must battle the need to believe that when a worker has some type of a bad outcome, that adverse outcome happened because the worker became momentarily incompetent. Our thinking is driven by a bias toward bad things happening because someone did something bad. The bias...

The word “adjacent” may be small in terms of letters used to spell it, but it has an enormous impact on the world of process safety.  Both OSHA’s Process Safety Standard (1910.119) and EPA’s Risk Management Plan (Part 68) use the word “adjacent.”  Here is how Webster defines “adjacent” adjacent (adjective): not distant: nearby It is important...

A great and reliable resource to help comply with… 1910.119(f)(1)(iii)(C) Control measures to be taken if physical contact or airborne exposure occurs;   https://www.cdc.gov/chemicalemergencies/factsheets/ammonia.html    

CLICK HERE for the pdf slides OSHA’s NEW Proposed Rule 1910.156 Emergency Response rule from OTI Education Center on Vimeo.

This week, OSHA posted an LOI regarding terms used in the PSM Standard, and this LOI has generated some discussions amongst some SAFTENG members, most notably… How are we required to document our HAZLOCs?  In OSHA’s LOI, it referenced 1910.307 Hazardous Locations standard which simply states: (emphasis by me) 1910.307(b) Documentation All areas designated as hazardous (classified)...