CSB Calls for Remote Isolation Equipment

 

CSB Safety Study Calls for Remote Isolation Equipment at Chemical Facilities

  • The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is calling for greater use of remote isolation equipment at chemical facilities.
  • In a study released on July 25, the CSB said such devices are designed to mitigate chemical releases remotely from a safe location and use of them will decrease the likelihood of serious injuries, fatalities, environmental contamination and facility damage following loss-of-containment incidents.
  • The agency’s safety student came out of its review and investigation of the November 2019 explosions and fires at the TPC Group chemical plant in Port Neches, Texas (pictured above).
  • In its final report on the Port Neches incident, CSB recognized that the facility wasn’t equipped with remotely operated emergency isolation valves, which CSB assessed could have prevented some of the secondary explosions and fires and minimized facility damage.
  • The U.S. Justice Department said in May that it was conducting a criminal investigation arising out of the incident.
  • Law firm McGuireWoods, in a company blog, said that the chemical industry should be aware of CSB’s warnings, adding that the study could be a signal to industry that the agency may be more likely to focus on investigating similar incidents in the future. 
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NIOSH Nanotechnology Health/Safety Summit Slated for October

  • NIOSH’s Nanotechnology Health and Safety Summit will be held Oct. 9-10, in Cincinnati.
  • The conference will focus on occupational exposure to nanotechnology and advanced materials, including additive manufacturing, electric vehicles and battery technology.
  • Registration for the conference will close October 1, 2024.
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Ontario Paramedics’ Excess Cancers Thought Linked to Workplace Exposure

  • Ontario paramedics face a higher level risk of developing all cancers compared to other workers but face a particularly high risk for melanoma and prostate cancer.
  • Researchers from the Occupational Cancer Research Centre found the cancer risks are similar to those identified in firefighters and police, despite the differences in job tasks which may indicate some common exposures.
  • Some of the similar carcinogenic exposures that need to be further investigated such as vehicle exhaust, solar radiation and night shift work.
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UK Businesses Face $32 Billion Cost of Workplace Sickness

  • A UK think tank said that businesses there face the equivalent of $32 billion (25 billion British pounds) of extra hidden costs of working while sick.
  • The new report from the bi-partisan Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) outlines a plan, including calling for tax incentives for companies that invest in workplace health, more focus around measuring health outcomes, and compulsory employer reporting on employee health.  
  • “Too often, UK workers are being pressured to work through sickness when that’s not appropriate,” said Dr. Jamie O’Halloran, report co-author and senior research fellow at IPPR.
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