Amplify Your Process Safety

In this episode, Wesley and Rob talk combustible dusts - what they are, why they're hazardous, and which NFPA standards apply to them. They'll also talk about a major event related to combustible dusts, and about upcoming requirements involving Dust Hazard Analyses (DHAs).

To view the CSB video mentioned in today's episode, please visit https://www.csb.gov/imperial-sugar-company-dust-explosion-and-fire/.

In this episode, Wesley and Rob cover a few major events that happened in industry in 2019, and update you on the latest ruling regarding RMP regulation changes. 

To learn more about these major events and others currently under investigation, visit the U.S. Chemical Safety Board's website at csb.gov.

In this episode, Wesley and Rob talk about how the people who know the process best, such as operators, maintenance technicians, and I&E technicians, can use weak signals, or leading indicators, to help prevent process safety events. They'll define what weak signals are, share some personal experiences, and shed light on what you can do when you discover something that doesn't seem right at your facility.

In this episode, Wesley and Rob discuss the basic elements of an incident investigation, while also addressing how blame and investigation findings should be handled. 

In this episode, Wesley and Rob present a crash course on risk matrices. They'll cover what a risk matrix is, its role in Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs), limitations to consider regarding matrix size, and more. If you're new to PSM, this is the episode for you. 

In this very special episode, Wesley returns to his alma mater to sit down with Dr. Jim Holste, interim director of the Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, during this year's International Symposium. Dr. Holste talks about the center's formation and mission, its satellite campuses and ties to industry, and the various degrees and certificates offered through the center. 

If you'd like to learn more about the Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center, please visit http://psc.tamu.edu or contact the center at [email protected]. 

In part 1 we covered some background and consensus standards regarding facility siting. In this episode, part 2, Wesley and Rob will break down the whole facility siting process from start to finish. First, they'll cover two different approaches to a facility siting study and they'll compare a consequence based approach with a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) approach. Then they'll discuss what other information is important for your study, including what release scenarios to incorporate, defining your maximum credible events (MCEs), and identifying the scope of the study. Finally, you'll learn about what to expect in your report, the importance of requesting a closing meeting, and how the study can inform various aspects of your PSM program in addition to its primary goal of saving lives. 

To learn more, check out this book from CCPS: https://www.aiche.org/ccps/resources/publications/books/guidelines-evaluating-process-plant-buildings-external-explosions-fires-and-toxic-releases-2nd

API 752: https://www.api.org/oil-and-natural-gas/health-and-safety/refinery-and-plant-safety/process-safety/process-safety-standards/rp-752

API 753: https://www.api.org/oil-and-natural-gas/health-and-safety/refinery-and-plant-safety/process-safety/process-safety-standards/rp-753

API 756: https://www.api.org/~/media/files/publications/whats%20new/756_e1%20pa.pdf

Facility siting. These two words appear in OSHA's PSM standard in the midst of other requirements that your PHA study must address, but no other details are provided. In part 1 of this facility siting episode, Wesley and Rob dive into a catastrophic event that highlighted the importance of facility siting, and then give a brief overview of what a facility siting study focuses on and how the it can ultimately inform your PHA study. Join your hosts again in two weeks for part 2 of this episode, where they'll discuss facility siting more in-depth, including study approaches, and both short and long term solutions you can explore after receiving your facility siting report.

Check out the CCPS book mentioned by Wesley here: https://www.aiche.org/ccps/resources/publications/books/guidelines-evaluating-process-plant-buildings-external-explosions-fires-and-toxic-releases-2nd

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In this episode, Wesley and Rob discuss the newest changes and revisions to the EPA's Risk Management Plan rule. You'll learn about new requirements involving emergency response plans, hazard reviews, training, compliance audits, incident investigations, and more. Wesley and Rob will also cover which changes have a future compliance obligation of March 15, 2021 and which changes your facility must be in compliance with now.

For additional information regarding the regulations discussed in this episode, please visit the EPA's website here: https://www.epa.gov/rmp/final-amendments-risk-management-program-rmp-rule

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In this special episode, Wesley welcomes our very first guest, William McBride, from CrossBridge Compliance. Will and Wesley discuss API 510, the recommended practice or inspection guideline for pressure vessels and talk about the importance of a vessel's U-1A. Will also explores the five important variables that go into calculating a vessel's remaining life from a mechanical integrity inspection standpoint: Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP), Stress Value for Materials of Construction, Joint Efficiency (JE), Corrosion Allowance (CA), and Corrosion Rate (CR).

For additional information and guidance regarding asset integrity programs, please visit www.crossbridgecompliance.com or contact Will directly at [email protected]

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