News bulletin – safety

NEWS BULLETIN

SAFETY

HELP WITH BATTERY RETURNS

Labelmaster has introduced a ‘Recall Ready Program’ for large-format lithium batteries, designed to simplify the recall process by providing manufacturers and distributors of such batteries with a comprehensive return logistics solution that includes regulatory guidance, custom packaging, customer service, e-commerce platforms and training.

“Recalls are unplanned and challenging events that companies across the supply chain are typically not ready for and for which they often make mistakes that cost time and money and put them at risk,” says Pia Jala, vicepresident of Labelmaster. “Recalls are especially difficult when they involve large-format lithium ion batteries, such as those found in electric vehicles, because they are big and heavy and fully regulated hazmat, so they cannot be put into a normal box and shipped like other goods. Our turnkey solution combines deep DG supply chain knowledge with a proven packaging system that’s being used to transport recalled batteries worldwide.” www.labelmaster.com

ESSO ADMITS LPG LEAK

Esso Petroleum has been fined £500,000 for breaches of Regulation 5(1) of the Control of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) Regulations, following the uncontrolled release of some 15 tonnes of LPG from a valve at its Fawley refinery in Hampshire, UK in November 2015. According to the UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE), which inspected the incident, the leak went undetected for around four hours before being spotted by an employee cycling home. The leak was close to a main road used by road tankers visiting the refinery.

HSE found that the leak occurred because LPG was put through piping at a pressure too high for the valve to cope with, and there was no process in place to detect the discrepancy in the flow. Esso Petroleum pleaded guilty to the charges.

HSE inspector Jonathan Halewood said after the hearing: “Where companies handle large quantities of substances that can cause major incidents, such as LPG, they are required to have layers of protection in place to prevent incidents. In this incident a number of those layers either failed or were not in place, resulting in a significant leak. Even though there was no fire or injury on this occasion, there was potential for a major incident.” www.hse.gov.uk

BEWARE OF PIPELINES

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued recommendations following its investigation of the fire and explosion aboard the cutter dredger Waymon Boyd in Corpus Christi in August 2020 after it cut through an underwater propane pipeline, resulting in the deaths of five crew. The vessel was engulfed in the spreading cloud of propane following the breach, and NTSB investigators concluded that this vapour would have been drawn into the vessel’s engine room, where it was ignited.

NTSB found that the probable cause of the incident was inadequate planning and risk management by the vessel’s operator, Orion Marine, which failed to identify the proximity of the dredging operation to the pipeline; this was partly due to the provision of “deficient” dredging plans. More detailed documents would likely have identified the risk and the pipeline’s operator, Enterprise Products, could have instigated protection protocols.

NTSB has called on industry bodies and federal regulators to improve guidance and training on pipeline protection during dredging operations, and for more coordination between dredger operators and pipeline companies. www.ntsb.gov

NEW BOSS FOR CHEMTREC

Chemtrec has appointed William Erny, formerly senior director of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), to lead its regulatory and strategic alliance initiatives. As directory of regulatory affairs and strategic alliances, Erny will now aim to bolster work already underway, further strengthening relationships with government partners, chemical manufacturers and distributors, and advising on best practices and safety policy and protocols.

Bruce Samuelsen, Chemtrec’s chief executive, says Erny’s appointment is not only strengthening its position as the go-to chemical emergency service provider but enabling the industry to become even safer: “With William joining our team, we now have an incredible resource in his skillset and experience engaging senior government officials as well as industry leaders. As a key policy influencer in his past roles with the ACC and the American Petroleum Institute (API), he will be able to advance and further develop our products and services to enable the industry to become safer.”

“Chemtrec is already leading the field when it comes to managing hazmat incident response practices,” Erny says. “I’m looking forward to building on this work to enhance chemical safety and regulatory compliance within the industry as well as offering class-leading advice for clients worldwide.” www.chemtrec.com