News bulletin – safety

NEWS BULLETIN

SAFETY

PSM TRAINING APP FROM CSB

The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has released a new online safety training app focusing on OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations. The interactive, free-to-use app uses the 2005 explosion at BP’s Texas City refinery as a model and takes the viewer through interactive training modules on each element of PSM, with a test at the end of each module.

“This is a new and innovative way for the CSB to present safety information to industry,” says Steve Owens, CSB interim executive. “We are excited to provide this new tool and learn how to make this new application even more useful to industry as people try it out.” Instructions for downloading the app can be found on the CSB website at www.csb.gov/news/ csb-process-safety-training-application-/.

MORE IMDG E-LEARNING

OneLearn Global has launched a new e-learning hazmat course for the maritime sector, covering the handling of dangerous goods on cargo vessels in bulk and packaged form. The online course is aimed in particular at crews working in US waters, providing a certification that is valid for five years for international operations and three years for US operations. It covers the training requirements of both the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and the US Hazardous Materials Regulations.

“Shipping is a hazardous industry for those working at sea,” says Abhi Narayana, CEO of OneLearn Global. “As a maritime training provider our role is to develop and deliver courses that help protect the lives of seafarers.”

The 15-module e-learning courses is delivered through interactive tutorials with easy on-scene instruction and scenario-based activities, assessments and audio-visual content. onelearn.global

STS STUDY FINALISED

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has published a new study analysing ship-to-ship transfers under varying environmental conditions. STS transfers take place across different geographies and under varying environmental conditions, adding to the complexity and risks associated with such transfers. OCIMF’s new information paper aims to support stakeholders in making their own assessments to determine suitable weather criteria and ascertain an appropriate weather window for STS operations.

This new study, which supports the key performance indicators (KPIs) listed in OCIMF’s STS Service Provider Management Self-Assessment document, used advanced mooring line load simulation technology for enhanced assessment of mooring line loads under varying environmental conditions for a variety of ship-type combinations, including LPG and LNG carriers.

The study can be downloaded from the OCIMF website at www.ocimf.org/publications/ information-papers/mooring-load-analysisduring-ship-to-ship-transfer-operations.

EVS ON RO-ROS

The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued guidance on the carriage of electric vehicles (EVs) on passenger ro-ro ferries. The guidance, contained in a new M Notice, MGN 653, responds to concerns over the potential for EVs to initiate or be involved in fires aboard ro-ro ferries, following a number of recent incidents.

MCA says, on the other hand, that fires involving EVs do not release significantly more energy than those involving traditional vehicles and are not at greater risk, though they may be more liable to reignite. There are, though, significant differences in the best practices for fire detection and firefighting for electric vehicles.

In the absence of any International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations or domestic provisions, MCA offers some ideas on where and how EVs should be positioned on a ro-ro deck, how to detect and prevent fires, and how to deal with the carriage of damaged vehicles. A copy of MGN 653 can be downloaded at www.gov.uk/government/publications/ mgn-653-m-electric-vehicles-onboard-passengerroll-onroll-off-ro-ro-ferries/mgn-653-m-electric-

vehicles-onboard-passenger-roll-onroll-off-ro-roferries.

PHMSA ADVISES ON BATTERIES

The US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued a safety advisory on the transport of lithium batteries for disposal or recycling. The Administration notes that, during recent compliance inspections, its investigators are routinely seeing shippers and carriers improperly packaging and shipping such batteries. These practices include failure to prevent shortcircuiting, mixing different batteries in the same packaging, and shipping pallet-loads of batteries in drums and boxes with inappropriate identification of their contents.

The advisory note adds no new regulation but explains clearly the requirements laid down in the US Hazardous Materials Regulations; it also includes a brief note for consumers on how to dispose of used lithium batteries and ship battery-powered equipment subject to a recall notice.

The notice can be downloaded from the PHMSA website at www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/ phmsa.dot.gov/files/2022-05/Final-05-16Lithium-Battery-Recycling-Safety-Advisory.pdf.

CSB FOLLOWS UP

The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has released a safety video on the explosion and fire at AB Specialty Silicones’ plant in Waukegan, Illinois in May 2019 that killed four workers, destroyed the facility and damaged nearby businesses. The explosion was caused by the mixing of incompatible chemicals, which generated a cloud of hydrogen that ignited.

“It is past time for regulators to fully recognise the hazards presented by reactive chemicals,” CSB chair Katherine Lemos says at the end of the video. “We call on OSHA and EPA to update their regulatory standards to include better coverage of reactive chemicals. Closing the regulatory gap will prevent further tragic incidents and save lives. Together, we can impact safety for our chemical industries, our workers, our community, and our environment.”

Links to CSB’s video and its investigation report can be found on its website at www.csb. gov/csb-releases-new-safety-videoincompatible-chemicals-explosion-at-abspecialty-silicones/.

CSB has also released its final report following its investigation of the fatal explosion at the Loy-Lange Box plant in St Louis, Missouri in April 2017. The bottom head of a pressure vessel used in the plant’s steam system failed catastrophically, causing a BLEVE that fatally injured one worker; the rest of the pressure vessel flew out of the plant, crashing through the roof of a nearby business and fatally injuring three more people.

CSB determined that the pressure vessel had been weakened by oxygen pitting corrosion and generalised corrosion; Loy-Lange had failed to prevent or monitor the corrosion and, indeed, its own start-up procedure likely introduced oxygenated water into the vessel. The company had no mechanical integrity or inspection programme, as recommended by industry guidance, and city authorities failed to inspect the facility, due to a lack of manpower.

CSB has made a number of recommendations, including one to the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors that they update their rules for commissioned inspectors (NB-263) to include prescriptive elements in the boiler and pressure vessel repair and alteration inspection and acceptance process.

DURKIN PROMOTED AT NCB

National Cargo Bureau (NCB) has appointed Mike Durkin (above) as chief information officer for the group; he moves from his previous post as operations manager at Exis Technologies, which was acquired by NCB in 2018, and will now be responsible for the IT strategy of both NCB and Exis.

“2022 marks four years since Exis Technologies joined forces with the National Cargo Bureau, and during this period the synergy between the two organisations has brought new and different capabilities to the NCB safety portfolio,” says Ian Lennard, president of NCB. “The acquisition of Exis was a natural fit and has significantly enhanced NCB’s Dangerous Goods service offerings globally. In the continuation of that advancement, Mike has been appointed to ensure that information technology adds maximum value to the achievement of our not-for-profit mission of Safety of Life and Cargo at Sea.”