Bluefield Process Safety, LLC

09/03/2026

In some corners of the chemical process industries, manufacturers still cling to the idea of “secret formulas”. Can they? Do the regulations even allow it?

“This hour I tell things in confidence. I might not tell everybody, but I will tell you.” — Walt Whitman I once worked at a plant that produced performance chemicals. Performance chemicals are sold based on what they do rather than what they are. The key specifications are the performance spec...

09/01/2026

A federal appeals court has struck down an OSHA requirement for employers to record work-related mental illnesses.

08/31/2026

Growth happens when we step beyond what we already know. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn, improve, and discover what we’re capable of.

08/28/2026

Industrial structure fires occur at a rate of over 20 fires per 1,000 industrial structures. Are they inevitable? How does that compare to the rate of residential fires in the U.S.? And what can we learn from the rate of structure fires in Japan, where the attitude about fires is very different? In the meantime, there is much we can do to reduce the likelihood of fire in our own facilities.

“That’s what insurance is for, right?” — Liam Dai (and thousands of others) There was recently a fire at a popular business in south Saint Louis city that was widely reported on the local news. As with many fires that happen here in Saint Louis, someone set up a GoFundMe fund to help the bus...

08/25/2026

Up to 1.4 million U.S. workers may have hearing issues attributable to job-related chemical exposure, results of a recent study suggest.

08/24/2026

Doing good doesn’t have to be complicated. Choose kindness, act with integrity, and make a positive impact wherever you can.

08/21/2026

No one expects a chemical plant or refinery to operate forever. As these industries move into their second century of operation, however, should we be expecting more of what the CSB requires reporting: incidents resulting in fatalities, serious injuries, or substantial property damage? Is there anything to be done about it?

08/18/2026

Physical, mental and emotional disabilities that aren’t glaringly obvious are often overlooked or unnoticed in the workplace. That can complicate, or even stymie, emergency preparedness plans. Here’s what you can do to support your employees.

Physical, mental and emotional disabilities that aren’t glaringly obvious are often overlooked or unnoticed in the workplace. That can complicate, or even stymie, emergency preparedness...

08/17/2026

Take ownership, take action, and write your own story.

08/14/2026

Comparing FMEA and HazOp is akin to comparing apples and oranges—they are different, but not that different. Still, there are times when one is clearly superior to the other. It’s important to know when, so the effort to perform a PHA is not an exercise in frustration.