Chemicals

Sodium bicarbonate (better known to the world as baking soda) is a soluble white powder that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It’s odorless, non-combustible and reacts with acids to release carbon dioxide gas and heat. The Versatility of Sodium Bicarbonate Sodium bicarbonate serves a variety of purposes, ranging from household uses such […]

Last week, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced in a final investigation report that a fire at a Richmond, California Chevron refinery in 2012 was the result of a flawed safety culture within the corporation. The large fire endangered 19 Chevron workers, and sent over 15,000 local residents to the hospital for medical attention. […]

As we move forward into 2015, OSHA shows every sign of retaining its historically intense focus on protecting workers from carcinogens—that is, agents known to cause cancer. Carcinogens are addressed in specific OSHA standards for general industry, and also for shipyard employment and construction. According to OSHA, a special difficulty posed by carcinogens is that […]

“This way to the Egress!” Back in the 1800’s, promoter P.T. Barnum posted these words on the walls of his museum in New York City to keep customers from lingering too long. Not knowing that “egress” was another word for “exit” many patrons hurried toward it, only to find themselves back outside. Egress is still […]

Exactly thirty years ago, the deadliest industrial accident of all time took place. On December 3, 1984, a leak in a pesticide plant caused the release of 40 tons of methyl isocyanate into the air in the city of Bhopal, India. About 4,000 people were killed outright, and another 15,000 passed away in the weeks […]

Acetic Acid Hazard Safety Tips Acetic acid may not be a household name to many, but it’s actually a quite commonly used hazardous chemical. As a vital chemical in industry, acetic acid is used for a variety of purposes in many countries around the world. Acetic acid hazards are often encountered in the workplace, and […]

What is Hexane and Where Can it Be Found? Hexane is a chemical commonly extracted from petroleum and crude oil. It is a colorless liquid that gives off a subtle, gasoline-like odor. Hexane is highly flammable, yet it can be found in many household products such as stain removers for arts and crafts projects. Because […]

Early Saturday morning, a toxic leak of methyl mercaptan gas (also known as methanethiol) killed four workers at a DuPont chemical plant in La Porte, Texas, just outside of Houston. A fifth worker was hospitalized and released. Yesterday, teams from the EPA, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the United States Chemical Safety Board […]

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fires and explosion accounted for 148 workplace deaths in 2013—or 3.4% of all fatal occupational injuries for the year. Despite industry and regulatory efforts to improve fire safety, this number (and percentage) has remained stubbornly constant since 2007. Despite this levelling off, it’s clear that OSHA intends that […]

According to a letter addressed to the American Coatings Association, OSHA has stated that it is willing to use its enforcement discretion to determine whether chemical manufacturers have made a good faith effort to obtain information necessary to comply with the June 1, 2015 chemical reclassification and safety data sheet authoring deadline. The deadline is […]