Creating a safety culture: Situation at BP Alaska shows it never ends
Once you get your safety culture “right,” is that it – mission accomplished? Some recent reporting about BP’s Alaska operations shows it’s a never-ending challenge.
Chemical Safety Board
CSB chief: DuPont has safety culture problem
Have DuPont’s safety programs, which it markets to other companies, just suffered an embarrassing black eye?
CSB: Corroded pipe caused refinery explosion; 5 injured, 676K pounds of hydrocarbons released
Safety professionals know wear and tear on equipment could lead to unsafe conditions if not regularly monitored and repaired. But sometimes even regular inspections don’t catch everything, potentially leading to disaster.
CSB: Flawed safety procedures led to toxic chemical leak, 4 deaths at DuPont plant
A federal agency looking into the exact causes of a toxic chemical leak at a DuPont plant in Texas that killed four workers says its investigation uncovered flawed safety procedures, design problems and inadequate planning.
CSB: Multiple process safety deficiencies led to explosion, near-miss
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board says the Feb. 18, 2015, explosion at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, CA, was caused by “multiple process safety management deficiencies.” The CSB also contends the situation easily could’ve been much worse.
Does fatal explosion show need for more safety regs?
A federal investigation into the fatal fire and explosion at the West Fertilizer plant in Texas points to shortcomings in existing regulations, standards and guidance. Does this case show there is a real need for more safety regulation?
Does your safety program account for employee fatigue?
Imagine this: A big order or a crisis requires lots of overtime for your employees. Where would you draw the line on OT because of worker fatigue?
DuPont: Safety innovator or severe violator?
Earlier this year, we asked if DuPont’s safety programs had suffered an embarrassing black eye. Following OSHA’s recent action of placing the company into its Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP), the question is no longer “if,” but “how big?”
Even best in safety have bad days
If we asked you to name a well known corporation with an excellent safety reputation, DuPont is one name that might come to mind. But a new report on three gas leaks and a fatality at a DuPont plant calls the company’s safety culture into question.
Explosion killed bystander; OSHA fines total half-a-million
OSHA has fined a Belvedere, IL, company $510,000 in connection with a December 2009 explosion that killed a bystander.
Failure to investigate previous explosions led to worker deaths
A report from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) says a large explosion at Carbide Industries (CI) in Louisville, KY, that killed two workers and injured two others resulted from a failure by the company to investigate similar but smaller explosions over many years.
Fatal sugar explosion caused by poor maintenance, housekeeping
A government agency says the February 2008 explosion and fire at the Imperial Sugar plant in Port Wentworth, GA, that killed 14 workers and injured 36 others, was caused by poor equipment design, maintenance and housekeeping.
Fertilizer plant explosion: Did facility have safety exemption?
Imagine being able to get an exemption from an OSHA regulation due to who buys your product. The fertilizer plant in Texas that recently exploded, killing 15 people, may have been doing just that.
Hazard analysis could’ve prevented explosion, 5 worker deaths
OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) standard applies to fireworks manufacturing but not to fireworks disposal. Had the standard applied to disposal, a required hazard analysis could have saved five workers who were killed in an explosion.
Helpful Safety Information
American Industrial Hygiene Assoc American Society of Safety Engineers Chemical Safety Board Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Federal Register: OSHA items Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report MSHA National Safety Council NIOSH NIOSH Fatality Narratives OSH Review Commission OSHA OSHA FAQs Swine flu info from CDC Workers’ comp insider
Importance of alternate routes for emergency drills
Here’s a real-life story about the importance of alternate escape routes in case of fire or another emergency. It involves the recent explosion at the Slim Jim (ConAgra) plant in North Carolina.
SAFETY TRAINING KITS
Get up to date with our Safety Training Kits.
