Document 7MZMbZVb4LpLK5ZObyw2Y99ee

ABD00100618 PLANT ENGINEERING NEWS & COMMENT Edited by Ed Palko, Senior Editor ble PC Cards rugged, high y image storage n temperature ertl, 12-bit ange economy Business Confidence Slips Again in September sales, which fell 2.8 points. At the same time, however, plans to increase R&D spending rose 2 points. Among the four specific manufac turing sectors tracked by Cahners Eco nomics, the results were also mixed. he Cahners Business Confidence the cards for the final months of 1995. The consumer and electronics indus Index (CBCI) edged slightly However, its modest slide in 1995 tries registered declines over the lower in September, declining could mean that we're in for an extend month, while traditional manufactur 0.1 point to 65.1. This is the first time ed transition period between the slug ing markets and construction product in 1995 that the index has declined for gish growth that has characterized manufacturers reported increases. It two consecutive months. This fact mir 1995 so far, and the moderate growth appears that the road back from the rors the stagnation that has been preva that has yet to arrive. sluggish growth during the first half of lent throughout the manufacturing sec The monthly change in the seven 1995 will be a bit curvier and bumpier tor. components of the index contained than had been hoped. We might be out Manufacturing markets have indeed mixed signals. The steepest decline of the woods, but we have only eased been weak during the past few months. was in plans to increase production/ out slightly into the clearing. Factory orders fell 1.3% in July -- the fifth drop in the last six months. More over, the August survey of the manu Cahners Business Cbnfidence Index facturing sector conducted by the National Association of Purchasing Managers (NAPM) brought surpris ingly bad news (refer to Plant Engi neering News & Comment 11/6/95). The overall NAPM diffusion index of activity fell from 50.5 in July to 46.9 in August. This drop suggests that the industrial sector as a whole continues to contract despite some encouraging rebound in most consumer markets. The CBCI's relatively high and sus 1994 1995 tained level (in the mid-60s) suggests Source: Cahners Economics. that an upturn in the economy is still in LITIGATION OSHA Develops New Litigation Strategy tory of OSHA serious citations or unpaid penalties? joint litigation and enforcement Solicitor's Office decide when to set Is the inspection part of a special strategy developed between tle and when to litigate. Employers emphasis program -- national, --J OSHA and its legal counterpart, who contest citations can expect an regional, or local? the Office of the Solicitor, highlights impending court battle if OSHA Is the employer likely to not abate the targeting of high-profile cases and answers "yes" to two or more of these cited hazards? recalcitrant employers. Assistant Sec questions: Are there other significant factors retary of Labor Joe Dear and Labor Will the violation be classified as in the case (such as a test case issue or red, Windows" agefor image meration. Solicitor Thomas Williamson have issued a memo to their regional offices describing in broad terms how the two willful, repeated, or failure-to-abate? Will violations be issued under Section 5(a)(1) of the general duty emerging hazards)? It remains to be seen whether the new strategy brings much relief to agencies will select, prepare, and clause? employers charged with relatively develop cases for litigation. Will penalties be significant? minor violations, or to those employ The new strategy purports to maxi Has the inspection revealed serious ers with a good compliance record, FUR SYSTEMS mize agency resources by identifying injuries, illnesses, or fatalities? but now charged with relatively sig 16505 SW 72nd M criteria that will help OSHA and the Does the employer have a prior his nificant violations. Portland, OR 9722 (503) 684-3731 Fax (503) 684-3 November 20.1995 Plant Engineering 13 PLANT ENGINEERING TRAINING Additions to OSHA-Authorized Compliance Training Center Locations Four more education centers have been added to the network of institutions authorized by OSHA to provide OSHA-approved compli ance training. The additions bring to 12 the number of such OSHA Training Institute (OTI) "franchised" centers nationwide. The centers provide train ing to both OSHA personnel and the private sector regulated community. Among the numerous curricula offered is compliance with general industry machinery and machine guarding standards, guides to volun tary compliance in safety and health, and voluntary compliance in industrial hygiene. OSHA provides curriculum outlines, master copies of student handout materials, and assistance to the organizations in presenting and/or answering questions on OSHA policy. OTI centers receive no federal funds, but charge tuition fees to course par ticipants. The new OTI centers and their train ing locations are: A consortium comprising Northern Illinois University, Construction Safe ty Council, and National Safety Coun cil will offer training in the suburban Chicago, IL area. A coalition of the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Safety Council, and University of Cincinnati will offer courses in St Paul, MN, and Cincin nati, OH. A joint project of Eastern Michigan University and United Auto Workers union will offer courses in Ypsilanti, MI. The University of Washington will offer OSHA courses at its campus in Seattle, WA. The other (currently-operating) OTI centers and their training locations are: Keene State College (Keene, NH), Niagara County Community College (Lockport, NY), West Virginia Univer sity/National Resource Center for Construction Safety and Health (Mor gantown, WV), Georgia Tech Research Institute (Atlanta, GA), Texas Engineering Extension Ser vice/Texas Safety Association (Arlington, TX), Maple Woods Com munity College (Kansas City, MO), Red Rocks Community College/ Trinidad State Junior College (Lakewood, CO), and University of Califor nia (San Diego, CA). Additional information on OTI, including descriptions of course con tent and training schedules, can be obtained from OSHA Training Insti tute, 1555 Times Drive, Des Plaines, IL 60018; 708-297-4810. Our new Advanced Winding Analyzer makes plant-wide predictive maintenance a reality! The output ofyour company could be jeopardized by a tiny electrical arc in the winding of a critical motor. That's all it takes to shut down an entire production line. It doesn't have to be that way. With Baker test equipment, you can see inside your electrical systems and spot potential faults before they cause motor failure and costly downtime. Baker test systems catch winding and insulation faults that meg-ohm and Hipor testers miss. So you can keep your motors running, and keep your production schedules on track. Call toll-free 1*800-752-8272 and let usprove why were the worldwide leader in motor winding testers. Mker' Baker Instrument Company PO Box 587 Fort Collins, CO 80522 {303)221-3150 FAX (303) 221-3013 For FREE information, circle 460 14 November 20,1995 Plant Engineering CALENDAR Crane Mechanical Maintenance. Three-day program will be pre sented in Orlando; FL, January 31-February 2; Atlanta, GA, Febru ary 14-16; and Phoenix, AZ, Febru ary 28-March 1. Contact: Harnischfeger Institute, 2712 S. 163rd St., New Berlin, Wl 53151; 414-8214000. International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (ASHRAE Show), Atlanta, GA, Feb ruary 19-21. Contact: International Exposition Co., 15 Franklin St., Westport, CT 06880; 203-221-9232. 45th Annual Industrial Ventilation Conference, East Lansing, Ml, Feb ruary 11-16. Contact: Christine Hundt, Michigan Department of Public Health, Division of Occupa tional Health, P.O. Box 30195, Lans ing, Ml 48909, 517-335-8230. x: 4, PLANT ENGINEERING LITIGATION REGULATIONS Refinery Agrees To Pay $1.2 Million in Penalties lark Refining and Marketing, Inc., has agreed to pay the sum of $1,257,000 in fines to resolve a number of citations issued following investigation of a fire and explosion at its Blue Island, IL, refinery that killed two workers and injured three others. Additionally, the company has agreed to make significant safety improvements, and and to perform a process safety management audit at the Blue Island plant. Terms of the settlement include a mandatory timetable and pri ority order for correction of any hazards, as well as provisions for inter im protection of workers until final corrective action has been accom plished. An independent third party consultant (approved by OSHA) with expertise in conducting process safety management audits in refineries will be part of the audit team. The accident occurred on March 13, 1995, during repair work on a valve for a hydrocracking unit used in produc ing gasoline. Operators not trained in maintenance procedures were performing the work, and did not properly lock out the equipment. Pressure in the line blew off the valve bon net, shooting flammable liquid and vapor 70-ft into a welding shop, where it ex ploded into a fire that flashed back into the hydrocracking unit. The employees who were killed had been eating lunch in the welding shop. The three operators in the hydrocracking unit suffered severe bums. COMPLIANCE OSHA Requirements for Respirators When Workers Wear Glasses pecial provisions apply when workers who wear glasses are re' ' quired to work in contaminated atmospheres requiring respiratory pro tection; contact lenses are prohibited in contaminated atmospheres. A full-face respirator must provide a full and prop er seal. If face pieces are provided with corrective lenses as part of the face piece, the lenses should be fitted by qualified individuals to provide good vision, comfort, and tight gas seal. ENFORCEMENT OSHA and EPA Scheduled to Conduct Joint Investigations in 1996 he Occupational Safety and Health Administration and En vironmental Protection Agency will conduct up to 20 joint investiga tions of chemical and petrochemical plants in fiscal year 1996 as part of a Clinton administration plan to have the agencies assume the responsibilities of a chemical safety investigative board. Although OSHA and EPA already perform some joint accident investiga tions, the agencies will use their expe riences in fiscal 1995 to develop a "joint investigation protocol" to deter mine whether an existing memoran dum of understanding (MOU) that coordinates agency investigations needs to be updated. A revised MOU would identify cri teria for determining when OSHA and EPA would conduct joint investiga tions and those instances when inspec tions would be conducted by only one of the two agencies. EPA and OSHA will also develop a review process, including appointments of so-called "blue ribbon" panels that would issue accident reports following major explosions or chemical releases. Chemical Industry Groups Plan To Oppose Proposed Changes in TRI --------1 he Chemical Specialties Man ufacturing Assn. (CSMA) has --I gone firmly on record as being prepared to vigorously fight any plan by the Clinton administration to add a chemical use inventory to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). The Chemi cal Manufacturers Assn., American Petroleum Institute, and other trade groups are also moving to mount an offensive. The actions come in the wake of a directive from President Clinton, ordering EPA to expedite a rule-mak ing that would require new groups of industrial facilities to comply with TRI reporting requirements. Said CSMA President Ralph Engel, "The adminis tration once again appears to be pun ishing the productive sector of society to provide unsubstantiated benefits to some of the public. This is reinvention not of regulation, but of cost-benefit analysis." Industry officials feel that such reg ulations would jeopardize trade secrets and competition. According to CSMA and other industry groups, chemical use and exposure are already well reg ulated under many federal statutes. COMPLIANCE OSHA Paperwork Requirements for Inhouse Fire Brigade L _ -i hat must be covered in the jlAf written organizational state- i-.-, J ment required by OSHA of employers who establish their own fire brigades? The statement must include (a) the basis of the organizational structure; (b) the type, amount, and frequency of training to be provided to fire brigade members; (c) the expected number of members of the fire brigade; and (d) the functions that the fire brigade is to perform at the work place. 16 November 20. 1995 Plant Engineering