Proforma Safety Blog

NTSB Has Issued Report on Oil Tanker Eagle Otome Collision

Posted by proforma on September 27, 2011  |  No Comments

You may recall the oil tanker Eagle Otome, which collided with barges on Jan. 23, 2010 in the canal near Port Arthur, Texas. The National Transportation Safety Board has announced that pilot fatigue, cracking jokes, reading newspapers and otherwise insufficient management of the tanker’s movements were factors causing the collision.

The fatigued pilot had operational control at the time of the collision, and as a result of initiating a turn late in a mild bend of the canal, failed to correct the sheering motions that began to occur. The board found that this pilot was distracted from conducting a radio call, which the second pilot should have conducted in accordance with guidelines. For details, click here.

Rig Crewman Killed When Sand-line Drum Clutch Lever Engaged

Posted by proforma on September 27, 2011  |  No Comments

After a completions rig crew had installed a set of flags to the rig sand line, the perator reached into the drum area to help retrieve a pipe wrench for one of the rig floor crewmen. His stomach came in contact with and engaged the sand-line drum clutch lever, resulting in the drum turning several revolutions and killing one of the rig crewmen. For details, click on this report.

Home Fires Primarily Due to Cooking

Posted by proforma on September 18, 2011  |  No Comments

Cooking fires are the leading cause of home structure fires and home-fire injuries says this recently released report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Most of these were from food or food apparatus catching fire.

NFPA’s advice:

Stay in the kitchen while you are cooking. If you leave, be sure to turn off the stove.
Check frequently anything that you’re baking, boiling or simmering. Do not leave the house.
Ensure nothing is on or near the stove top that would easily ignite.

If something does catch on fire:

Keep a lid nearby when you’re cooking in order to smother grease fires. If a grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the stovetop. Leave the lid on until everything cools.
If an oven fire begins, shut off the oven and keep the oven door closed.
Do not try to fight the fire yourself (59 percent of non-fatal injuries happened when victims tried to snuff the flames on their own).
Leave the house and call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

Also, check out your stove and oven in Consumer Reports before purchasing to ensure you’re informed of potential hazards.

And speaking of home fire hazards, this month’s Consumer Reports warns of a recall of 30-pint dehumidifiers made by LG Electronics Tianjin Appliance Co., which have a dangerous electrical flaw that pose fire and burn hazards. Read the alert here.

Lengthy Process to Establish Drilling Safety Standards Anticipated, Says Administration

Posted by proforma on September 11, 2011  |  No Comments

Houston Chronicle reported Sept.9, 2011, that a top adminstration official said the U.S. government will initiate a long process for setting new offshore drilling safety standards after the joint federal investigation into the Deepwater Horizon is completed.

Bureau of Labor Stats for 2010 Show No Improvement over 2009

Posted by proforma on September 11, 2011  |  No Comments

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ preliminary report on fatal occupational injuries for 2010 showed unfortunately that the number of workplace fatalities showed virtually no improvement over 2009. American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) President Terrie S. Norris says this should be a call for action, especially given these economically challenging times when workers can be at greater risk. For details, click here.