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In addition to Building Safety Month, May is National Electrical Safety Month – an issue closely related to building safety. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is kicking off its annual effort to raise awareness of potential home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety.

The voluntary consensus industry standard on workplace first aid kits is currently undergoing revision and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) is seeking stakeholders to particpate in the review and approval process for this standard.

As reported previously, we found a causal factor of the tragedy to be long-term, undetected High Temperature Hydrogen Attack (HTHA) of the steel equipment, which led to the vessel rupture on the day of the accident and the massive release of highly flammable hydrogen and naphtha.

May’s Building Safety Month has been used since its inception in 1980 as an opportunity to promote public awareness about a variety of building hazards. The theme for week one of Building Safety Month 2014, May 6-12, sponsored by the American Wood Council (AWC), is “Code Officials: Keeping Fire in its Place.”

The collection and testing of dust samples is a long-established practice used by industrial safety and hygiene professionals to make informed dust collection decisions. While dust-testing protocols have not changed markedly in recent years, the importance of dust testing has changed.

NFPA 654: Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids contains comprehensive guidance on the control of dusts to prevent explosions. The following are some of its recommendations:

May has been deemed Building Safety Month by the International Code Council (ICC), which wants to make the public aware of what it takes to create and maintain safe and sustainable structures.