Welcome to AcuSafe News -- The electronic newsletter devoted to serving industry, government, and interested members of the public by providing information that is useful, timely and best of all - FREE. AcuSafe News  is comprised of best process safety practices, incident news, lessons learned, and regulatory developments.

AcuSafe News is an extension of the AcuSafe website (http://www.acusafe.com/), the Internet resource for safety and risk management information, products, training, and professional exchange. We hope you visit the website and find AcuSafe News and the AcuSafe site to be valuable tools.

*********** IN THIS ISSUE ************

RMP Update: Companies Volunteering to Disclose their Offsite Consequence Analysis Data Online
OSHA Insider: An Interview with Cal/OSHA and a Summary About their Recent OSHA PSM Enforcement Initiative
Chemical Safety Board Update: Root Causes of Propane Tank Explosion Near Albert City, Iowa
Hot Topic Editorial: Is Process Safety Getting Better? A Follow Up
Technical Topics: Determining Contractor Safety Responsibilities Under the PSM Standard
Resources: Meet the new Editor of AcuSafe News - David Garcia - and an announcement on the Opening of AcuSafe's Safety and Risk Management Discussion Forums
Incident News: Just When you Thought the Backyard Barbeque Was Safe!
Events Update: 2000 API Safety and Fire Protection Conference and Environmental Risk Assessment Training Course Sydney, Australia

*********** STORY ABSTRACTS ************

RMP UPDATE
Companies Volunteering to Disclose their Offsite Consequence Analysis Data Online
The Chemical Safety Information, Site Security and Fuels Regulatory Relief Act prohibits EPA from making Offsite Consequence Analysis (OCA) data available over the Internet and restricts access to such information through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and other means. Some facilities, however, are voluntarily making this information available to the public. Should you consider doing this? For access to OCA data from facilities that offer it without restriction, go to http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/oca_rels/pl106-40.html. Check it out and tell us what you think?

Please participate in AcuSafes June 2000 Poll: Do you think voluntary disclosure of OCA data on EPA's website is a good idea? Sound off and tell us about it.

OSHA INSIDER
An Interview with Cal/OSHA and a Summary About their Recent OSHA PSM Enforcement Initiative
The California legislature made changes to the California Occupational Safety and Health Act that stiffens penalties and makes it easier for the enforcement division to press their claims. The greater enforcement expected from this initiative and an interview with Cal/OSHA's Iraj Pourmehraban about the changes as it pertains to PSM enforcement is discussed in more detail.


CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD UPDATE
Root Causes of Propane Tank Explosion Near Albert City, Iowa
While the Chemical Safety Board is reviewing current investigations and seeking additional funding for its operations, AcuSafe is running a series on the investigation reports that the CSB has completed. The first story in the series focuses on a propane tank explosion in rural Iowa that attributes design and installation deficiencies, lack of regulatory oversight, and emergency response issues as root causes for the tragedy.


HOT TOPICS
Follow-Up: Is The State Of Process Safety Getting Any Better After 10 Years Of Regulation?
The May AcuSafe News Editorial on the rate of incidents after 10 years of PSM did evoke some responses form our readers. Although most said that there was a grain of truth in all items, a few more have been added to the truth pile. Click here to read more and also link back to the original article.


TECHNICAL TOPICS
Who is a "Contractor" Under the PSM Standard?
AcuTech's Jim Cibelli discusses common pitfalls in compliance with the PSM's Contractors element and shares some common scenarios of people who may be subject to the requirements, yet who are not commonly identified as such.


RESOURCES
Meet the new Editor of AcuSafe News and an announcement on the Opening of AcuSafe's Safety and Risk Management Discussion Forums
John Lee is turning over the reigns as editor of AcuSafe News to David Garcia. While John will continue to contribute articles to AcuSafe News and maintains an active role within the organization, he will be focusing attention on other development pursuits. Meet the new editor as he introduces himself and discusses AcuSafe's new forum for sharing issues of interest to safety and risk management professionals. 


INCIDENT NEWS
Just When you Thought the Backyard Barbeque Was Safe!
A propane explosion at the Mata Amritanandamayi Hindu retreat in Castro Valley, California injured nine people (two seriously) on June 13, 2000. Please click on this link to read our summary of events and reports.


EVENTS UPDATE
2000 API Safety and Fire Protection Conference
The American Petroleum Institute is holding its annual Safety and Fire Protection Conference on October 30th in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. It is an exciting event for safety professionals and others to add to their knowledge of contemporary health, safety and fire protection issues, techniques, and procedures. Two in depth breakout sessions are featured: Managing Human Factors and PSM Beyond the Regulation. For those attending the API Fall Refining meeting, the conference is scheduled in the same hotel and the same week. 

For more information, call (202) 682-8149 or visit the API events web page at http://www.api.org/events. 

Environmental Risk Assessment Training Course Sydney, Australia
The University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia is holding a short course in Environmental Risk Assessment August 2-4, 2000. Course objectives include: Choosing the appropriate tools to analyze human health and environmental risks; Incorporating risk analysis in the environmental risk management process; Assessing the uncertainties of risk analysis and the robustness of input information; and Using decision analysis tools in the dynamic process of risk management.

For more information contact Daniela Leonte at The University of New South Wales phone: +61-2-9385 or visit http://www.safesci.unsw.edu.au/shortcourses.

A free calendar detailing important conferences, events, meetings, and regulatory deadlines is available on AcuSafe. The calendar will be updated regularly, so we suggest you bookmark it for future reference - http://www.acusafe.com/Calendar/index.html. Our readers are encouraged to contribute other events of interest to Process Safety professionals.