“Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in.” Napolean Bonaparte Can operator responses to unsafe conditions be considered part of safety instrumented functions? The question frequently arises during a Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) as operators consider their existing safeguards and Independent Layers of Protection (IPLs). [...]
“Two Nebraska workers have lost their lives in 2016 in the grain handling industry and far too many preventable fatalities and injuries continue to occur.” Jeff Funke, OSHA area director-Greater Omaha Area The Bureau Labor of Statistics attributes workplace injuries and illnesses to one of seven events or exposures. One of the seven, overexertion, is [...]
“There is no greater evil than men’s failure to consult and to consider.” Sophocles In our office, we write a lot of recommendations. As a rule, we begin recommendations with the words “consider” or “confirm.” This isn’t because we’re looking for weasel-words. It’s because not every recommendation is the best idea. Some recommendations aren’t even [...]
“Electricity is really just organized lightning.” George Carlin When I think of circuit breakers, I usually think of the circuit breakers in the panel in the basement at home. They are relatively small (120 to 240 volts, 10 to 60 amps), and they’re for fairly simple circuits. They supply power to my lights, outlets, refrigerator, [...]
