In memory of James Reason, I thought it would be fitting to share, in my professional opinion, one of the greatest safety models of my career. If businesses could just embrace this model when it comes to how they investigate events, we could move workplace safety forward a couple of decades. The model is quite simple and has proven to make sense of people’s errors, mistakes, and violations. I...

Back in June of 2021, a 1.5 million gallon water tank exploded just as a contractor began to perform hot work on it. Now most people would think a water tank would not have explosive properties; thus, the workers, nor the deceased contractor with 16 years experience, did not sample the atmosphere within the tank. The explosion sent the massive tank 70′ into the air. But Methane gas can be entrained...

A lot of folks may not know that Hydrogen gas is used as a refrigerant on generators at power plants. When I first started working on power plants in 2005, I was shocked at this practice and at how some plants managed these risks. I have never done work for the company involved in this fatal H2 explosion, but their set up was very similar to others. LEARNING from the mistakes of others is key to accident...

By: Victor Dearman Jr. CIRO, CRST Flagging tape is not LOTO! And never has been. I would bet good money the operating procedure for this compressor has LOTO covered, but those are just documents to look good in a binder sitting on a shelf collecting dust because they are viewed as a necessary evil to satisfy perceived compliance, “but that’s how we actually do it.” It’s 2025. Do better!

Establishment Size: All sizesStandard: 1910.120 HAZWOPER … HomeRead More »

Establishment Size: All sizesStandard: 1910.119 Process Safety Management … HomeRead More »

Since 1996 Establishment Size: All sizesStandard: 1910.146 Permit-Required Confined Space OSHA’s Data on 1910.146 – October 2023 through September 2024 … HomeRead More »

Since 1996 Establishment Size: All sizesStandard: 1910.134 Respiratory Protection. Citations issued during the period October 2023 through September 2024. Penalties shown reflect current rather than initial amounts. … HomeRead More »

A permit-required confined space (PRCS) may be reclassified as a non-permit space under the following conditions as outlined in 1926.1203(g): There is no actual or potential atmospheric hazard within the space.This means that there are no atmospheric hazards in the space, and none will develop during the entry period. Use of forced air ventilation to control atmospheric hazards is not considered the...

Does the Standard impose additional requirements on “permit-required confined spaces” beyond those imposed for “confined spaces”? Yes. … HomeRead More »

This information should open some eyes as to OSHA’s expectations for how our PRCS Entry Programs are managed and by WHO! Take time to “read between the lines” in this information. Could your facility, and more specifically could your facility personnel, pass this level of inspection? … HomeRead More »

I came across this on the DOL website and found it refreshing, as it seems the debate still rages on about several key terms in OSHA’s PRCS standards. Here are a few that may be helpful: … HomeRead More »