The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is making $1 million in grant funding available for training and outreach programs to help local communities prepare for transportation incidents involving hazardous materials, including crude oil and ethanol.
The probable cause of the 2015 collision of the Conti Peridot and the Carla Maersk in the Houston Ship Channel was the inability of the pilot on the Conti Peridot to respond appropriately to hydrodynamic forces after meeting another vessel during restricted visibility, and his lack of communication with other vessels about this handling difficulty controlling his vessel, said the National Transportation Safety Board.
For engineers in chemical, petrochemical industries
May 31, 2016
The Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) has established a new professional designation for engineers and practitioners working in the chemicals, petrochemicals and affiliated industries. The CCCPS Certified Process Safety Professional certification allows employers to verify an employee or job-seeker’s proficiency in, and ongoing commitment to, process safety principles and practices and to verify that they are trained and invested in the latest process safety techniques and knowledge.
Among the industries affected by the revisions in OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is the restaurant industry, where workers may be exposed to an array of potentially hazardous chemicals such as oven cleaners, floor cleaners, pesticides, disinfectants, drain cleaners, soaps, detergents, and latex. These materials can cause everything from infections to severe burns.
The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) was originally adopted by OSHA in 1994. Since its recent update, it is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) used throughout the world.
The June 1, 2016 deadline past; employers must be in compliance with OSHA’s GHS standard through the updating of alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication program (as necessary), and by providing additional employee training for newly identified physical or health hazards.
Oil and gas companies in New Mexico were responsible for 1,477 reported oil, gas, and other chemical spills in 2015, according to the New Mexico Toxic Release Tracker released by the Center for Western Priorities.
New Pig, the leading brand for helping companies manage leaks, drips and spills, recently announced the launch of their newly redesigned website. Created with the latest technology and the ultimate customer-friendly experience in mind, the new newpig.com features a clean, uncluttered design and improved navigation and functionality throughout, allowing fast, easy access to detailed product and vital information affecting daily operations.
The Maryland Department of the Environment says Memphis-based Verso Corp. will pay a $10,000 settlement for two chemical spills that tainted the Potomac River last fall. Agency spokesman Jay Apperson said the amount is the same as a fine the agency proposed in February.
