Consensus
CSB: Dust Control, Housekeeping Failures Led to Fatal Hoeganaes Explosions
On Jan. 5, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released a report on the three deadly fires and explosions that occurred at a Hoeganaes Corp. plant in Gallatin, Tenn., in 2011. The report asserts that the accumulation of fine iron powder in the facility led to the explosions, and that Hoeganaes did not take necessary action to prevent these fatal events. CSB also used its report to highlight the need for an OSHA standard on combustible dust...
ANSI Approves Two New Construction and Demolition Safety Standards
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved two new construction and demolition standards – ANSI/ASSE A10.1-2011 Pre-Project and Pre-Task Safety and Health Planning for Construction and Demolition Operations and the ANSI/ASSE A10.26-2011 Emergency Procedures for Construction and Demolition Sites. The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) is the secretariat for both standards....
CSB Calls For Hazardous Waste Facility Safety Standard
On Dec. 17, a chemical fire at an Ohio hazardous waste facility fatally injured one worker and severely burned another. In the aftermath of this incident, U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso highlighted the importance of creating a national fire code for hazardous waste facilities...
Chemical Safety Board: Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Sites Are Hazardous to the Public
At a press conference in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Oct. 27, the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) issued recommendations to EPA, state regulators, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) aimed at reducing fires and explosions at oil and gas exploration and production facilities. A new report from CSB identifies 26 incidents since 1983 that killed 44 people and injured 25 others under the age of 25...
New ANSI Standard Provides a Standardized Way to Report Hazards Associated with a Chemical
A new American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standard establishes criteria for comparing chemicals and processes, making it easier for chemical manufacturers and their customers to make greener choices...
Creating Confidence: Oct. 14 is World Standards Day
Friday, Oct. 14 is designated as World Standards Day, the annual event recognizing experts from around the globe who work with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and other international organizations to develop voluntary standards...
CSB Investigation on Three Accidents at DuPont Belle, W.Va., Plant Calls for Tightened Safeguards for Highly Toxic Gas Handling
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) found the lack of safe equipment design, ineffective mechanical integrity programs and a failure to investigate near misses contributed to a series of three accidents that occurred over a 33-hour period on Jan. 22 and 23, 2010, at the DuPont Corp.’s Belle, W.Va., chemical manufacturing plant. The final release – of deadly phosgene gas, which was used as a chemical weapon in World War I – resulted in the death of a worker...
New ANSI/ASSE Standard Focuses on Prevention Through Design
A new ANSI/ASSE standard will address occupational hazards not just on site or after an incident occurs, but from the beginning – in the design process...
At-Home Safety: Online Tool Sparks Better Fire Sprinkler Decisions
For the builder or buyer of a new home, the decision of whether or not to install a fire sprinkler can be complicated, particularly if you’re not already an expert on the matter. A free National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) online tool helps make that decision a little easier by examining the costs and benefits associated with residential fire sprinklers...
Web Exclusive Feature: Snuffing Out Industrial Dust Hazards
The right dust collection system not only will prevent hazardous situations, but also can improve worker comfort and productivity...
Managing PPE: NFPA Standards: One Number Makes a Big Difference in Protection
Which standard is the most appropriate to use when considering flame-resistant clothing: NFPA 2112 or 2113...
How OSHA, ANSI and GHS Impact MSDS for Sealing Products
Since prehistoric times, information about the materials used in products such as medicines and dyes has been shared between manufacturers and end users. Now, we have regulations and standards from OSHA, ANSI and GHS to contend with...
Machine Guarding Made Easy
Taking the holistic approach to machine guarding safety...
New CSB Safety Video Highlights Hazards of Gas Releases
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has released a new safety video depicting two major accidents caused by the intentional release of flammable fuel gas near work areas...
ASSE Share Views, Support on OSHA’s I2P2 Standard
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) sent a letter to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., to reiterate its support for OSHA’s development of an injury and illness prevention program (I2P2) standard...
AIHA Unveils Top EHS Public Policy Issues for 2011-2012
The American Industrial Hygiene Association’s (AIHA) biennial membership survey revealed the most pressing public policy issues within the EHS profession over the next 2 years, with PELs and OSHA’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program topping the list...
NIST Study on Charleston Furniture Store Fire Calls for National Safety Improvements
Major factors contributing to a rapid spread of fire at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, S.C., on June 18, 2007, included large open spaces with furniture providing high fuel loads, the inward rush of air following the breaking of windows and a lack of sprinklers, according to a draft report from the U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)...
ASSE Urges OSHA to Utilize Consensus Standards When Developing Slips and Falls Rule
In an Aug. 19 letter to OSHA on the proposed Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment rule (29 CFR, Part 1910), the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) urged the agency to utilize existing fall standards and the voluntary consensus standards as it develops the new rule...
NFPA Releases New Edition of Disaster/Emergency Management Standard
On March 19, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released the 2010 Edition of NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs...
Lockout/Tagout Compliance: Group Lockout and Shift Changes
Part 2 of our three-part series about lockout/tagout compliance examines the challenge of shift changes to safety...
ISEA Announces Updated Standard for High-Vis Safety Apparel
An updated national consensus standard for high-visibility safety apparel from the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) now includes service-life guidelines and provides criteria and test requirements for garments marked as flame- or water-resistant...
ASSE Announces Release of New Roadway Work Zone Safety Standards
In an effort to address transportation-related incidents, which are still the leading cause of on-the-job deaths, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the approval of a new voluntary consensus standard, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASSE A10.47-2009 “Work Zone Safety for Highway Construction.”...
What You Need to Know about Dust Explosions and Your Facility, Part 2
This two-part series examines the causes of dust explosions, their devastating impact and the measures suggested by OSHA, the National Fire Protection Agency and the Chemical Safety and Hazard Review Board to eliminate them...
ASSE Announces Revised Workplace Fall Protection Standard
In an effort to provide the most current information on slip, trip and fall prevention, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the approval of a newly revised American National Standards Institute (ANSI) /ASSE Z359.0-2009 “Definitions and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest” voluntary consensus standard...
OSHA Updates PPE Standards to Reference Consensus Standards
On Sept. 9, OSHA issued a final rule revising the PPE sections of its general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring and marine terminals standards to reflect recent editions of the applicable national consensus standards that incorporate advances in technology...
