Bluefield Process Safety, LLC

05/28/2026

There were several serious chemical incidents during the third week of May that got media attention, from local to international. While the reporting is wrong on many counts, it is important to understand what really happened if we want to prevent recurrence of these events.

“Do you fix a wheel that isn’t broken, or do you wait until the cart collapses?” — Jodi Picoult During the week beginning Thursday, May 21, 2026, and going over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, our phones lit up with queries from friends and acquaintances about a series of chemical mishaps ...

05/26/2026

A new challenge from OSHA encourages peer-to-peer recognition of safe work practices.

The agency says on-the-spot recognition can “make workers more aware of their daily safety actions.”

05/22/2026

During a recent stint serving on a jury in a criminal trial, one safety professional got a good reminder of how unrelated the criminal justice system is from a safety incident investigation. There are three key differences.

“When you go into court you are putting your fate into the hands of twelve people who weren’t smart enough to get out of jury duty.” — Norm Crosby During the 15 years I have lived in the city of Saint Louis, I’ve been called for jury duty four times. The most recent was just a

05/19/2026

OSHA has issued a revised National Emphasis Program on outdoor and indoor heat-related hazards.

The revision includes a revised list of “high-risk” industries and guidance for agency inspectors on issuing citations.

05/18/2026

Happiness is built through the actions, mindset, and energy we choose.

05/14/2026

Most of us know that a bee sting at work is a recordable injury if it prompts treatment with a prescription drug like an Epi pen. But are we all aware of bees swarming behavior and the potential that has for creating a process hazard?

“Give me a 15-foot crocodile any day over a bee.” — Bindi Irwin We recently had an unexpected hazard appear outside our office. Unexpected by us, our neighbors, and the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, at least. A hive of bees covered the fire hydrant outside our front door. From ac...

05/12/2026

OSHA is seeking to eliminate its November 2036 deadline for employers to install personal fall arrest or safety systems on certain fixed ladders.

Petroleum industry groups say compliance “will affect more than 22,000 ladders and cost more than $1.2 billion.”

05/11/2026

Chase growth, not applause.

05/07/2026

Safety and operations are often pulled in different directions by pressure and systems that don’t fully align. Closing the gap is essential to building safer, more effective work environments where both goals can coexist.

“Don’t ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up.” -Joseph Joubert On a busy afternoon, maintenance flagged a small leak on a piece of equipment, nothing urgent, but something that required a shutdown to fix properly. Operations pushed back. So, a temporary workaround was put in ...

05/05/2026

OSHA has released interim enforcement guidance on certain handrail and stair rail system requirements.

OSHA says words are missing from a table on handrail and stair rail system installation requirements.