First, let’s DEFINE what we mean when we use the term “remotely operated shutoff valve.”  I have come to love the UK’s HSE definition, which is: A valve DESIGNED, INSTALLED, and MAINTAINED for the primary purpose of achieving rapid isolation of plant items containing hazardous materials in the event of a failure of the primary containment system (including, but not limited...

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“Proximate Causes and Subcauses (Personal).— In connection with the unsafe acts of persons (which are the direct causes of the majority of accidents) the immediately preceding subcauses are of great value in determining the most practical remedy. For example, it is not always enough to know merely that a machine operator oiled his machine while it was in motion. The reason why he acted unsafely...

H. W. Heinrich, Assistant Superintendent Engineering and Inspection Division, The Travelers Insurance Company is best known as the “Father of Industrial Safety”.  Much of what he developed in the 1920s-1950s can still be applied today.  He was a true pioneer in our profession, but it seems there are some in the profession today that want to throw out all of his work.  From...

Heinrich’s take on unsafe acts and the “vital significance” of what drove that behavior. He clearly believed that unsafe acts were a reflection of MANAGEMENT and not solely the worker. “Proximate Causes and Subcauses (Personal).— In connection with the unsafe acts of persons (which are the direct causes of the majority of accidents) the immediately preceding subcauses are of...

“The safety engineer referred to in this discussion is the industrial safety engineer who is employed by management. He is representative of and a part of the managerial and supervisory staff that directs the work of employees, and he, therefore, shares the responsibility of management for accident prevention as already described. Being specially qualified in safety work and often in direct charge...

“Management’s responsibility for controlling the unsafe acts of employees exists chiefly because these unsafe acts occur in the course of employment that management creates and then directs. Management selects the persons upon whom it depends on carrying out industrial work. It may, if it so elects, choose persons who are experienced, capable of, and willing to do this work well and safely. Management...

H. W. Heinrich, Assistant Superintendent Engineering and Inspection Division of The Travelers Insurance Company, is known as the “Father of Industrial Safety.”  But today, there is a movement in the safety profession to denounce his work.  To me, this is just disrespectful; hell, most of us owe our professional safety careers to Heinrich.  The work he did was over 90 years...

Every business needs to risk rank its businesses down to each process within each facility.  This “risk profiling” keeps safety matters and risks in perspective when you’re trying to manage a global operation.  This risk profiling MUST use accurate and verified data.  Lagging indicators can play a role, but they do not fully indicate risks. Every organization will have...

Who said the following, and what year was it said? “The prevention of accidents is a science, but it is not so recognized nor is it treated scientifically today. In our endeavors to solve other problems we proceed logically enough to find out what is wrong and then to make it right; but when it comes to accidents the same degree of logic is not so evident.” HINT #1: no one in this group...

A federal investigation into two workers’ fatal burns at an Oregon, Ohio, refinery’s crude unit found its operator violated OSHA’s process safety procedures for highly hazardous materials and failed to train the workers adequately.   As the workers attempted to correct rising liquid levels in the fuel gas mix drum, a flammable vapor cloud formed, ignited, and then triggered an explosion in...

Another “when you see it” human factors screw up from a traveling SAFTENG Lifetime Member…. thanks Victor Dearman We want to wish you all the luck in getting out of that parking garage. ? At a mall in Louisiana, when you see it… … HomeRead More »