Safety – It’s Everyone’s Job!
We work in an industry where there is very little tolerance for errors since we deal with highly hazardous, flammable chemicals. Normally our plants operate with exceptional safety records since they are built to exacting standards, inspected frequently to monitor changes in integrity and personnel are highly trained. However, sometimes human error, cutting corners or […]
Walking the Walk…Management Commitment My assumption is if you are reading this, you have some involvement in, or responsibility for, Process Safety Management (PSM) in your facility. OSHA’s Standard for Hazardous Materials, 29 CFR 1910.119, is a mere 21 pages long including 12 pages of “non-mandatory” appendices — but should it be your responsibility, what […]
Compliance with the Process Safety Management rule, OSHA 1910.119, is a requirement for plants processing certain highly hazardous materials exceeding threshold quantities. The rule requires the owner to demonstrate all equipment has been purchased and installed in accordance with recognized industry standards. Maintenance practices must also be according to Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering […]
The Process Safety Management rule (PSM), OSHA 1910.119, was implemented in the early 90’s, more than 20 years ago. Implementation was driven by a number of tragic accidents in the process industry. However, despite the long history of the rule and multiple preventable, catastrophic incidents, many companies still have not fully implemented PSM. Companies that […]
As the year draws to a close, I’ve been retrospective — regarding what I have seen in terms of Safety successes. It turns out that it has been a good year for Safety! Having had the opportunity to interact with different operations, companies and a variety of “Safety Cultures”, it is evident to me […]
by Scott McLaurin, Becht Safety Solutions Manager and contracted member of Owner’s Team of onsite Safety Professionals during Summer 2014 turnaround on Alaska’s North Slope. “If it’s important, it gets measured” is an oft-heard adage, but especially true when it comes to Safety Performance. The truth is while we attach certain values to both desirable […]
Hazard Identified; What Next? As we’ve discussed in recent articles, once a hazard is identified as legitimate, it needs to be mitigated. A time-tested approach is what is known as The Industrial Hierarchy of Controls. While effective if applied properly, we must consider the human interface when utilizing the hierarchy of controls. A quick refresher […]
Within the Safety Professional community, one topic guaranteed to generate vigorous debate is that of Hazard Identification. Volumes of information exist, theories are plentiful and opinions are abundant. While certain fundamentals always will apply, consideration for the changing dynamic of today’s workforce is essential. Once we understand that dynamic, our approach to hazard identification (and […]
Successful organizations have embraced a philosophy of multi-level management for decades; it is embedded within all their processes. Have you ever considered how those leading organizations have applied the same concept to Safety? Within the corporate community, it’s a known fact that the more effectively processes and procedures are implemented throughout that organization, the better […]
Apples to Oranges? Over the years, one thing that continuously strikes fear into many hearts of Safety professionals and management alike, is the Safety challenge that comes with a turnaround. A turnaround of any scale will introduce a totally different dynamic into the workplace. Assuming the status-quo in Safety will suffice during a turnaround is […]
