Major chemical incidents can be prevented by applying process safety management principles. Process safety management (PSM) is the control of process hazards in order to prevent process-related injuries and incidents. The CSB has conducted seven investigations with 26 resulting recommendations relating to improving state and federal process safety management programs.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) investigation team that deployed to the April 26, 2018, explosion at the Husky Energy oil refinery in Superior, Wisconsin. This is a brief update of the CSB’s ongoing work: The CSB investigation team arrived in Superior the evening of April 26 and to date has photo-documented a large percentage of the refinery.

A direct final rule issued by OSHA on May 4 “clarifies” several provisions of the agency’s beryllium standard for general industry, the agency announced in a press release. The provisions addressed in the rule concern processes, operations, or areas where workers may be exposed to materials containing less than 0.1 percent beryllium by weight; the definitions of the terms “beryllium work area,” “emergency,” “dermal contact,” and “beryllium contamination”; disposal and recycling; and dermal exposure to materials that contain at least 0.1 percent beryllium by weight.

A growing range of wearable monitors may help people lead stronger, smoother lives, but MIT's newest device is looking to save them--specifically, by alerting soldiers when toxic gases are around. Researchers from MIT's Swager Group developed the small chemical sensors to detect toxic gases in trace amounts using adapted carbon nanotubes, and are working to put this technology in wireless-friendly form for field use as soon as possible.

1. Get the Person to Fresh Air Move the person away from carbon monoxide area. If the person is unconscious, check for injuries before moving. Turn off carbon monoxide source if you can do so safely.

Among hazardous chemicals and substances handled in industry, gases are often the most dangerous. In addition to being harder to contain than liquids or solids, many gases are invisible and odorless, forcing workers to rely on sensors and meters to detect leaks.

Last week’s fatal accident in Florida involving an electrical vehicle is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is giving special attention to how emergency responders – including firefighters and tow truck operators -- dealt with the electric vehicle battery fire that followed the crash.

Farmers in California, the nation’s top agricultural state, are applying near-record levels of pesticides despite the rising popularity of organic produce and concerns about the health of farmworkers and rural schoolchildren. The latest figures, released in April by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and covering 2016, show that 209 million pounds of pesticide active ingredients were used in agriculture.

The minutes immediately following an uncontrolled hazardous substance release are critical in protecting workers, property, and the environment. That’s why OSHA requires both initial and annual refresher training for any worker expected to assist in the handling of an emergency release.