My sister-in-law, Judy Perez, is battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer and has been for over four years. She just started a cycle of compassionate care treatment at MD Anderson. Life has been especially tough for her and my brother, Julio Perez, these last several months. They have dealt with physical pain, emotional highs and lows,…
Energy organizations such as chemical manufacturers, oil and gas production, and even pharmaceutical manufacturers strive to maintain a Process Safety Management (PSM) program to ensure the safety of their employees and those around their facilities. Many of these organizations are familiar with the requirements of PSM including the process of conducting Process Hazard Analysis (PHA)…
At every facility, there is a point during the process hazard analysis when the team inevitably dives into “the black hole” of flare/relief/scrubber systems. Following strict HAZOP analysis methodology, a team documents all deviations from normal operating limits. However, with most relief systems, this leaves the team facing numerous causes, and with each source, having…
When performing a process hazard analysis (PHA), often people of different positions and specializations are gathered in the meeting room to assess the chosen process on its safety and ability to safeguard against inherent hazards. These groups can include personnel from maintenance, operations, engineering, HS&E (Health, Safety, and Environmental), and management. This diversity of thought…
I have worked in the PSM consulting business for close to 20 years. When I graduated from college, I did not set out to be a PSM engineer or consultant. PSM was in its formal infancy when I started my career as a chemical engineer with Rohm and Haas. I was fortunate that Rohm and…
Cognascents will be at the 2019 AIChE Spring Meeting and 15th Global Congress on Process Safety in New Orleans from March 31st-April 4th. Stop by our booth #213 to pick up this year’s puzzle and meet the newest member of the Cognascents team, Justin Daarud. Conference Details:2019 AIChE Spring Meeting & GCPSMarch 31 – April…
Engineers have a bad rap regarding crimes against the literary world. While it may be true a good percentage of the time that engineers prefer to use their writing implements to solve an equation rather than pen a technical masterpiece of prose, it is not an absolute fact that all engineers create a vacuum when…
From previous blog entries, some of you know I respect the annual personal or professional reset brought about by the turning of the calendar page from December to January. A new year is as good a time as any to reflect on years past and look forward to years future with the intent of centering…
For facilities having to comply with the 1910.119 Process Safety Management (PSM) mandate of 1992, Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs) are required to be revalidated every five years after the initial effort. To refresh your memory, the mandate requires that Process Safety Information (PSI) be compiled and verified as accurate prior to conducting the initial PHA.…
