Comments on: Secretary of Labor Solis gets serious about workplace safety with BP

By: DoctorH

DoctorH — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:01:34 +0000

Looks like Hillary Clinton set Hilda Solis up for failure on that Honduras adventure. That’s quite a cheap shot from Hillary to evade responsibility for a role that completely belongs to the State Department. It seems like Hillary is now practicing political techniques pioneered by Dick Cheney. What’s next? Send Hilda to Iran to fix that labor, oops nuclear situation?

By: Munro's Safety Apparel

Munro's Safety Apparel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:07:52 +0000

It is good that she is doing this but it will take a great deal to make some businesses really pay attention. I think an $87 million dollar fine should stir things up though.

By: John Astad

John Astad — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:06:14 +0000

Here is some interesting info concerning the OSHA citations that BP did not document that equipment complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices (RAGAGEP).

In addition most of the citations are concerned with inlet line pressure drop on numerous pressure reliefs did not comply with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices (RAGAGEP), such as API Recommended Practice 520

API RP 520’s recommended guideline of 3% inlet pressure loss is not RAGAGEP for existing relief valve installations

RAGAGEP is not a standard or code; it is a benchmark against which performance can be judged.There is no mandatory code that governs relief valve inlet pressure loss.

OSHA believes there is a mandatory standard in the refining industry that prohibits inlet pressure loss exceeding 3% on existing relief valve installations. That is not legally or factually correct; there is no such legal obligation and it is not common refining industry practice to apply 3% to existing relief valves.

Most refiners in the United States allow inlet pressure losses on existing relief valve installations in excess of 3% and up to 5%.

OSHA is now requiring that BP must modify its relief systems beyond applicable industry standards.

It appears that the terms of the 2005 Settlement of Agreement (SOA) have changed with the new administration and OSHA leadership of a new sheriff in town.

There is no amount of money that will bring those workers who perished back. Yet at the same time there needs to be equitable balance in all this. Unfortunately, an opinion that OSHA and many do not agree on.

By: theKaiser

theKaiser — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:23:43 +0000

Hilda Solis definitely has her work cut for her. Especially since Industrial America has had thirty years to reverse the work environment safety standards, and put profits ahead of people. But she’s the right person for the task.

By: FormerStaffer

FormerStaffer — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:11:22 +0000

I agree…Hilda Solis is quite the role model. Hopefully college graduates see the benefit of following Hilda Solis’ public service path, rather than emulating the Sanchez sisters.

By: BettyM

BettyM — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:13:45 +0000

Hope she can place heavy fines on every big company that thinks they can get away with poor safety practices.

By: El Cholo

El Cholo — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:58:26 +0000

Now here is a role model for all public servants. Something that should be noted by the vast majority of Congressional Hispanic Caucus members, who don’t seem to be able to define the actual meaning of public service. With the exception of Raul Grijalva, who does get it, Hilda Solis’ commitment to “The People,” is very inspiring.