Volume 3, Issue 4, June/July 2001, David M. Garcia, Editor

Welcome to AcuSafe News -- The electronic newsletter devoted to serving industry, government, and interested members of the public by providing  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. AcuSafe.com and AcuSafe News are presented to you by AcuTech Consulting Group, a division of Chemetica, Inc. (http://www.acutech-consulting.com)  

 

In This Issue


  DOT News:   DOT RSPA Proposes More Narrowly Tailoring the Applicability of DOT Hazardous materials Regulations to Loading, Unloading and Storage

 

  OSHA News Labor Secretary Chao Answers Question About Withdrawn Ergonomics Rule

  CSB News:  CSB Seeking Input on Reactive Chemicals Hazards Investigation

  Resources:  
           1.   EPA Risk Management Program - Audit/Inspection Curriculum
           2.   New Tier II Software Around the Corner
           3.   Two New Chemical Safety Network Examples

  Incident News:  Monthly Summary of Incidents, April 13, 2001 - June 16, 2001 

  Events Update:  
           1.    PSM Best Practices Seminar
           2.    17th Annual National VPPPA Conference     

 

  Other 
           1.    AIChE's Contributions to Chemical Process Safety
           2.    A New Take on the Risks of Money Laundering 

   
 

Story Abstracts
DOT News 
DOT RSPA Proposes More Narrowly Tailoring the Applicability of DOT Hazardous materials Regulations to Loading, Unloading and Storage
On June 14, 2001, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) issued a proposed rule to clarify where the US DOT requirements for Hazardous Materials begin. RSPA proposes to clarify that "transportation in commerce," for purposes of applicability of the HMR, begins when a carrier takes possession of a hazardous material and continues until the carrier delivers the package containing the hazardous material to its destination as indicated on shipping papers. This means that many loading, unloading and storage activities, which the proposed rule characterizes as "pre-transportation functions," are activities that are "incidental to their movement" and are not covered under US DOT regulations.

   

OSHA News
Labor Secretary Chao Answers Question About Withdrawn Ergonomics Rule
In testimony before Congress on April 26, Labor Secretary Chao explains the Bush Administration's reasons for rescinding the November 2000 Ergonomics Standard. For a summary of her remarks and some insight as to how the Bush Administration may construct a new proposed rule, please read our feature story.  

 

Chemical Safety Board News
CSB Seeking Input on Reactive Chemicals Hazards Investigation
CSB is soliciting comments on its investigation of reactive chemical hazards; approximately 170 reactive chemical incidents over a twenty-year period are included in the investigation.. This effort arises from questions raised during an accident  investigation of a 1998 incident at the Morton International Chemicals Plant in Paterson, New Jersey. 

The objectives of the reactive chemical hazard investigation are to: (1) Determine the impact of reactive chemical incidents; (2) Examine how industry, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) address reactive chemical hazards; and (3) Analyze the appropriateness of and consider alternatives to industry and OSHA use of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reactivity rating system for reactive hazard management. The hazard investigation will likely result in recommendations to promote the safe handling of reactive chemicals.

A public hearing will be scheduled for sometime in late  Summer 2001 or in the early Fall. For more information, please visit the CSB web site. 

 

Resources

EPA Risk Management Program - Audit/Inspection Curriculum
EPA has released its training curriculum for USEPA auditors/inspectors in conducting "technically and legally sound audits, compliance inspections or field investigations" under RMP. The curriculum includes internal courses, RMP Basics and RMP Techniques, that are required of all EPA auditors. It also includes recommended offerings from outside organizations and companies like AcuTech, OSHA, AIChE, PSI, PSC, ASSE, Chilworth, API, WEF, and Conger & Elsea. EPA's courses for its inspectors are available to the public on a space available basis (with a fee). For more information, please read the curriculum on the EPA web site.

  
New Tier II Software Around the Corner
EPA and NOAA are developing Tier II software that could be used in states where it meets state reporting requirements.  Due in December 2001 for the March 2002 reporting deadline, this software will improve on the existing software in a number of ways: 

  • Contain all of the data elements required by federal EPA regulations, optional data elements which are commonly required by states, and also blank data fields to accommodate additional data elements required by individual states

  • Help facilities avoid common reporting errors by verifying that all required data elements are completed

  • Allow facilities to correct errors prior to submission

  • Work on most PCs, yet have the capacity to enter multiple facilities for a company and enter numerous chemicals for each

  • Wave the ability to copy a report from the previous year

  • Integration with CAMEO

For more information , please read the fact sheet, which is available on the EPA web site.

Two New Chemical Safety Network Examples
EPA has solicited examples of successful chemical safety practices in implementation, risk assessment, and risk communication. Selected examples are chosen because they are easily reproducible, low cost, and promote community partnerships.  The two latest examples are from the Lubrizol Corporation (focusing on chemical issues assessment) and the Sartomer Company (Improving Safe Handling of Chemicals).

1999 National Toxic Inventory Now Available
Every three years, the EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards prepares a National Toxic Inventory (NTI) based on emissions from different types of sources of the 188 statutory hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Selected raw data from the 1999 inventory of point sources is now available on the EPA web site. The following source categories are available at this time:

  • Petroleum refineries-catalytic cracking, catalytic reforming, and sulfur plants;

  • Petroleum refineries-other sources not distinctly listed;

  • Pulp and paper production;

  • Primary aluminum production;

  • Nutritional yeast manufacturing;

  • Fabric printing, coating, and dyeing;

  • Municipal waste combustors;

  • Medical waste incinerators; and

  • Municipal landfills (non-point source).

 
Incident News
Monthly Summary of Incidents, April 13, 2001 - June 16, 2001
We collect stories about major spills and releases from around the globe. This month's installment summarizes a total of 21 incidents brought to our attention between April 13, 2001 and June 16, 2001. Most of the incidents covered have caused significant injury, deaths, or major property damage. Accidents in Romania, China, India, Brazil, Nigeria, Russia, Bulgaria, Taiwan, Germany, South Africa, and the U.S. are represented.  We welcome input to this effort by submitting summaries of other notable events to editor@acusafe.com.

 
Events Update
"Industry Workshop on Practical Application of Process Safety Management", August 28-29, 2001, Intercontinental Hotel, New Orleans
The PSM Best Practices Seminar is just around the corner! Taking place in New Orleans on August 28-29, 2001, we are proud to say that AcuTech is hosting the "Industry Workshop on Practical Application of Process Safety Management - Lessons Learned and Industry Best Practices." Areas of emphasis will be on the performance of PSM Management Systems, Regulations and Enforcement, and Cost Effectiveness in PSM. 

Sponsoring organizations include the American Petroleum Institute, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Center for Chemical Process Safety, the American Chemistry Council, The National Petroleum Refiner's Association, and the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturer's Association. Speakers will include representatives from Texaco, FMC, Hovensa, OSHA, CSB, AIChE/CCPS, Chevron, and others.

Process Safety Management has evolved into an integral part of industry's business management strategy. Companies are continually striving to improve their process safety performance. This seminar presents an opportunity to benchmark other's approaches and to learn about best practices in the industry in an interactive forum. Leading industry and government experts will present state of the practice papers on key PSM topics. The workshop assists industries implementing PSM by identifying the PSM elements presenting the greatest challenges, possible solutions, and the best practices currently available in the industry. Emphasis will be placed on practicality of information and will focus on most pressing issues now and in the near future.

The target audience includes members of the petroleum, chemical, and petrochemical-processing industries, with emphasis placed on those directly involved in implementing PSM at the plant level. 

For more information about the event, please contact AcuTech at inquire@acutech-consulting.com or  Madeleine Sellouk of API at (202)682-8332.

  
17th Annual National VPPPA Conference 
The annual VPPA conference is in New Orleans this year, August 27-30, 2001. The four-day event includes: general sessions featuring top officials from OSHA and corporate America, two days full of workshops coordinated by VPPPA members,an Exhibit Hall, and several evening networking functions. Further conference details are available on the VPPPA web site.

Other
AIChE's Contributions to Chemical Process Safety
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) is a professional association of over 50,000 members that provides leadership in advancing the chemical engineering profession. Some of our readers are probably members too, and are familiar with its publications and professional development opportunities, but for those of you who are unfamiliar with the organization, it does significant outreach to the public as well.  For example, Girl Scouts in Princeton, NJ learned this year about chemicals and chemical engineering using unique hands-on learning tools designed by AIChE. This innovative program is part of the Institute's overall effort to encourage children to explore the wonders of chemical technologies in everyday life and introduce them to chemical engineering as a career. For more information on AIChE's programs, or to learn how to make a contribution,  please visit http://www.aiche.org/foundation, or call (212)591-7488.

  
A New Take on the Risks of Money Laundering 
Speaking of everyday risks, sixty-eight one-dollar bills were collected from individuals at a food concession stand at a high-school sporting event and a check-out lane at a grocery store and tested for bacterial contamination. Five bills (7%) were contaminated with types of bacteria that commonly cause infections in healthy persons. Fifty-nine bills (87%) were contaminated with types of bacteria that can cause significant infections in hospitalized patients or in those with a depressed immune system. There was no bacterial contamination detected on four bills (6%). The information from this study highlights the possibility that bacteria may have a vehicle to be rapidly spread through the exchange of paper currency.  The study was performed by Theodore Pope, M.D., Peter Ender, M.D., William Woelk, Michael Koroscil, and Thomas Koroscil, M.D., Ph.D. from the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, and the Division of Endocrinology at Wright-Patterson Medical Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The work was funded by the United States Department of Defense.
 


 
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