The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has honored a request by SAS Safety Corporation to voluntarily rescind four NIOSH respirator approvals issued to SAS Safety Corporation.
Due to the voluntary rescission of these NIOSH approvals, respirators bearing these NIOSH approval numbers may no longer be used, manufactured, assembled, sold, or distributed.
Read more »
Marine Chemist Services featured in Oyster Pointer
Keeping the community safe and clean: Marine Chemist Service laboratory is in the news again.
Read more »
MCS certified through the Virginia Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program
Marine Chemist Service was recently certified through the Virginia Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program to add the analysis of Copper and Lead in Drinking Water to its current analytical offerings of Non-Potable Water testing (Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury, Selenium, and Silver) as well as TCLP prep of Non-Potable Water and Solid & Chemical Materials.
Read more »
New VELAP Certification for Marine Chemist Service, Inc.
The Marine Chemist Service laboratories recently added to its VELAP Certification.
Read more »
Former Carrier Kitty Hawk Arrives in Brownsville for Scrapping (Re: USNI News)
The Navy’s last conventional super carriers arrived in Brownsville, Texas this week after taking one last towed sail before getting scrapped.
Read more »
Hazard Standards and Clearance Levels for Lead in Paint, Dust and Soil (TSCA Sections 402 and 403)
In December 2020, EPA announced a new action to better protect American children from the dangers of lead. This final rule will lower the clearance levels for the amount of lead that can remain in the dust on floors and window sills after lead removal activities.
Read more »
Beryllium in Nature and Ship Repair (by Robbie Walker)
Beryllium is a lightweight metal that is six times stiffer than steel, melts at 2,349 degrees Fahrenheit, and possesses the highest thermal conductivity of all metals.
Read more »
OSHA Publishes Updated Shipyard Industry Standards
OSHA has issued an updated handbook (October 2021) on shipyard industry standards (OSHA Publication 2268).
Read more »
Why Asbestos Still Threatens Construction Workers’ Health (Re: EHSToday)
Asbestos continues to represent a considerable threat to the health of construction workers and the population at large. Though some applications for asbestos have been banned in the United States, the naturally occurring silicate mineral itself is not.
Read more »
Sen. Tim Kaine, Rep. Rob Wittman push to boost funding for shipyards (Re: Daily Press)
Members of Congress from both parties, including Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland, want the Navy to put a long-term, $21 billion plan to improve its in-house shipyards on a fast track.
They’ve introduced bills to appropriate all the money now — and to set another $4 billion to help the private shipyards that build and repair Navy ships finance improvements to their facilities.
Read more »
Bipartisan Group Proposes $25 Billion in Shipyard Improvements (Re: Shipbuilders Council of America)
A bipartisan congressional group has introduced a $25 billion shipyard improvement bill that will provide $21 billion for the Navy’s four public shipyards. The bill, proposed by a group of senators and congressmen who represent states and districts near the shipyards, also includes $4 billion for the nation’s private shipyards.
Read more »
How to properly wear a Respirator
When you must wear a respirator to protect yourself against airborne contaminants, it is very important to follow proper procedures for putting it on and taking it off.
Read more »
How to Identify Fake N95 Masks (Re: EHSToday)
News recently surfaced that the federal and state governments are grappling with a massive counterfeiting ring that managed to distribute at least 10 million fake 3M N95 masks throughout at least five states—and those are just the ones that have been identified and seized by federal officials.
Read more »
U.S. Coast Guard MSIB 02-2021: COVID-19 Safety Requirements in the Maritime Transportation System (Re: NFPA Marine Field Service Department)
The Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy has published Marine Safety Information Bulletin 02-21 “COVID-19 Safety Requirements in the Maritime Transportation System” (MSIB 20-2021) to provide information related to the requirement of all persons traveling on all commercial vessels to wear a mask.
Read more »
Amazon Invests in Cleaner Fuel for Shipping (Re: The Maritime Executive)
Amazon’s climate pledge fund has joined Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and three venture-capital partners in a funding round for Infinium Holdings, a startup focused on making synthetic hydrocarbon fuels from industrial CO2 sources and green hydrogen.
Read more »
OSHA’s Use of Drones May Expand in 2021 (Re: EHS Today)
On Dec. 28, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a final rule allowing operators to fly small drones over people under certain circumstances.
Read more »
2020 Christmas and Light letter
A letter regarding Christmas, light, and hope to a very special group of amazing employees from the President of Marine Chemist Service.
Read more »
Navy New Virginia Block VI Virginia Attack Boat Will Inform SSN(X) (Re: USNI News)
The submarine community is nearing a plan for its Block VI Virginia-class submarine, which will be an improvement in stealth and capability compared to the boats under construction today and will be a bridge to the upcoming SSN(X) program.
Read more »
MEMORANDUM FOR AMERICA’S SHIP BUILDERS, MAINTAINERS, AND SUPPLIERS
From the Assistant Secretary of the Navy James F. Geurts
Read more »
Navy sub Montana moves to final stage before float-off from Newport News Shipbuilding (Re: Daily Press)
Moving 7,800 tons of Virginia-class attack submarine from the cavernous building where some 10,000 Newport News Shipbuilding workers assembled Montana to the drydock from which it will be launched into the James River is a slow, stately business.
Read more »
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information regarding Influenza
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has official information regarding the seasonal flu:
Read more »
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information regarding Coronavirus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has official information regarding COVID-19:
Read more »
One Year In, SURFDEVRON Ready to Speed Up At-Sea Testing, Prototype Deliveries (Re: USNI News)
One year after the stand-up of the Navy’s development group to test new concepts in surface warfare, the command is prepared to make the most of an upcoming overlap in unmanned surface vessel (USV) experimentation and acquisition during its next year, the commodore of the unit told USNI News.
Read more »
Lack of U.S. Warship Repair Capacity Worrying Navy (Ref: USNI)
A deficit of ship repair capacity and an expected change in the Navy’s needs for large combatants versus smaller ones may force the entire industry to rethink their roles in construction and maintenance work going forward, a panel of officials said this week.
Read more »
PPE CASE – Filtration Efficiency Performance of Non-NIOSH-Approved International Respiratory Protective Devices: Phase One (Re: CDC/NIOSH)
This report summarizes the filtration performance results from the assessments that took place as a result of the initial Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and discusses important considerations when purchasing non-NIOSH approved international respiratory devices temporarily authorized for occupational use in the United States.
Read more »
Memo from the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (ASN) Geurts regarding the USS Bonhomme Richard fire.
After calling Sasebo, Japan its homeport for 6 years, the Bonhomme Richard left for San Diego in the spring of 2018. The fire 2 weeks ago took place there, and required 4 days to extinguish.
Read more »
A Letter of Thanksgiving to the Employees of Marine Chemist Service during the COVID-19 Pandemic
As 2019 came to a close, turkeys were cheap, even after Thanksgiving; and some of us were shopping online to hopefully receive packages before Christmas morning. That was followed by ringing in the New Year, albeit most from the warmth and comfort of our homes, and a smaller number even celebrating Kansas City’s Superbowl victory. Then, love was in the air around Valentine’s Day and the unseasonably mild winter yielded to a seemingly early spring with a plethora of daffodil blooms. Those past three months now seem so long ago…
Read more »
Thomas Jefferson student from Loudoun proposes idea for graphene face-mask (Re: Loudoun Times Mirror)
Thomas Jefferson High School junior Parnika Saxena, 16, proposes the idea of a face-mask made of graphene that might more effectively help quell the spread of COVID-19.
Read more »
90-Day Extension to Shipyard Competent Person (SCP) Refresher Training
From: Director, NAVSEA Standard Specification for Ship Repair and Alteration Committee (SSRAC)
Subj: 90 DAY EXTENSION TO SHIPYARD COMPETENT PERSON (SCP) REFRESHER TRAINING
Read more »
Planning & Praying for a Hope-Filled Future
In the wake of the COVID-19 virus, our highest priority is to help ensure the health and safety of our employees, customers, and suppliers. In doing so, Marine Chemist Service is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as Virginia and local authorities. Further, doing so accords with our tried and true vision statement; albeit we never envisioned its application would extend to the current pandemic:
Read more »
6 coronavirus health myths, fact checked (Re: CNET)
Despite what you see online, eating garlic and drinking water can’t protect you from getting infected.
Read more »
Second day of boring guns from ironclad Monitor dislodges a potential artifact (Re: Daily Press)
A long day at the Mariners’ Museum uncovered an artifact from inside of one of the two massive Dahlgren guns that sank with the famed ironclad USS Monitor more than a century-and-a-half ago.
Read more »
Optionally-Manned Systems and the Future Naval Force (Re: The Maritime Executive)
OSHA Sets Focus on Silica Enforcement (Re: EHSToday)
Dominion sets net-zero carbon goal by 2050 (Re: Virginia Business)
Siemens is Dominion Energy Inc.’s preferred turbine suppliers for the company’s offshore wind project. Dominion Energy Inc. announced Tuesday a new goal of achieving net-zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from its electricity generation and gas infrastructure operations by 2050.
Read more »
100 Years of Respiratory Protection History (NIOSH)
In 1919, the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) initiated the first respirator certification program. Several months later, on January 15, 1920, this federal body certified the first respirator. To recognize the important milestones of the past 100 years, this webpage documents a general historical overview of respiratory protection research and the evolution of the certification program as undertaken by the U.S. federal government.
Read more »
Counterfeit Respirators / Misrepresentation of NIOSH-Approval (Re: NIOSH)
When NIOSH becomes aware of counterfeit respirators or those misrepresenting NIOSH approval on the market, we will post them to alert users, purchasers, and manufacturers. View Counterfeit Respirators / Misrepresentations.
Read more »
Do Fall Protection Harnesses Have a Defined Expiration Date? (Re: MSA)
In a recent article, we discussed the “expiration date” for hard hats. Technically, they don’t have a standards-defined EOL (end of life) date or definitive shelf life. After all, we’re not talking about a food item or other perishable.
Read more »
Coronavirus could mean fewer ships coming to the Port of Virginia (Re: The Virginian Pilot)
The deadly outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China is causing a worldwide slowdown in the shipping industry as that country extends its New Year. That could mean fewer ships coming to and from Hampton Roads.
Read more »
Lindblad Becomes “First Self-Disinfecting Cruise Fleet” (Re: The Maritime Executive)
As the ongoing coronavirus epidemic disrupts cruise operations throughout Asia, Lindblad Expeditions, the cruise operator for National Geographic Expeditions, announced Thursday that it has become “the first self-disinfecting fleet in the cruise industry.”
Read more »
Study Says Drinking Water Has Toxic Byproducts
Mixing drinking water with chlorine, the United States’ most common method of disinfecting drinking water, creates previously unidentified toxic byproducts, says Carsten Prasse from Johns Hopkins University and his collaborators from the University of California, Berkeley and Switzerland.
Read more »
Bats Inspire Oil, Gas Pipe Leaks Detectors (Re: Laboratory Equipment)
Engineers have developed a new scanning technique inspired by the natural world that can detect corroding metals in oil and gas pipelines.
Read more »
Release Radioactive Water from Fukushima into Ocean (Re: Laboratory Equipment)
An expert panel on Friday advised the Japanese government to release radioactive water from the Fukushima power plant into the ocean, rather than boiling it and releasing it in the atmosphere.
Read more »
Robbie Walker President, Marine Chemist Service, Inc. (Re: Oyster Pointer)
Learn about the president of Marine Chemist Inc., Robbie Walker in Oyster Pointer’s interview.
Read more »
Maritime Association turns 100, eyes expansion (Re: Virginia Business)
In the Virginia Maritime Association’s 100th year, Ashley McLeod has a wish for inland businesses to recognize the impact of the Port of Virginia on the entire state.
Read more »
Confined Spaces: The Initial Test of the Atmosphere (Re: The Maritime Executive)
International maritime standards currently require crews sailing on vessels around the world to have an extensive amount of training and certifications which permit them to sail on board ships of all types.
Read more »
Certified Marine Chemists Help With Enclosed Space Safety (Re: The Maritime Executive)
Certified Marine Chemists could be an asset make the maritime industry safer for confined space hazards.
Read more »
Asbestos Is Far from an Antiquated Threat (Re: EHS Today)
Anyone involved in manufacturing or production should be intimately aware of the legacy of asbestos. The diseases most commonly associated with the mineral – asbestosis and mesothelioma – commonly take 20 to 30 years to gestate, long after the underlying problems have been corrected. The result is that mistakes made as far back as the 1970s are still returning to haunt businesses – and may continue to do so for decades to come.
Read more »
Should Workers Be Allowed to Wear Earbuds? (Re: EHSToday)
OSHA has issued no specific rules around this, but there are guidelines.
Read more »
DNV GL Presents AIP for ‘LNG Ready’ Mega Box Ships
Wednesday at the SMM trade fair in Hamburg, DNV GL presented Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) with an Approval in Principle (AIP), recognizing the technical feasibility of the LNG fuel system design for the A14 and A18 series of container vessels.
Read more »
Bulk Carriers to Adopt Wärtsilä Dual-Fuel Engine Technology
The increasing use of LNG as a marine fuel is further emphasized with the latest order for Wärtsilä’s dual-fuel engine technology. A new cement carrier being built at the Scheepswerf Ferus Smit yard in the Netherlands will feature a six-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF main engine, making it the first bulk carrier to adopt Wärtsilä’s multi fuel capability.
Read more »
Submarine John Warner will stay close to home
The Navy christened the submarine John Warner on Saturday in a star-spangled ceremony at Newport News Shipbuilding that paid homage to the elder statesman of Virginia politics and included a hometown flourish.
Read more »
OSHA names new director of its Standards and Guidance Directorate
WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels has appointed Bill Perry as the new director of the agency’s Directorate of Standards and Guidance, effective Aug. 24, 2014.
Read more »
CSB Emphasizes Existing Resources Available on Hot Work Safety
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today emphasized the hot work safety resources available free of charge through the agency’s website at www.csb.gov. The Board previously released safety videos, a safety bulletin, and accident investigations all warning of the hazards of welding, cutting, grinding, and other hot work activities in and around storage tanks containing flammable materials.
Read more »
Best Campus Food in the country (again!)
You may be wondering, so here’s the connection: “Protecting People, and their Environment” –> eating healthy –> food.
Read more »
Fatal injuries and nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving insects, arachnids, and mites
Annual nonfatal work-related injury and illness case counts involving insects, arachnids, and mites that led to days away from work ranged from 4,930 to 6,870 between 2008 and 2010. Most of these nonfatal cases were due to stings or bites, some venomous and some nonvenomous.
Read more »
Excelerate Energy & the Year of LNG
We are about 105 people, with our core group based in The Woodlands in Houston, Texas, with offices in Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, London, Dubai and Singapore. Our current FSRU fleet is comprised of nine purpose built re-gasification vessels including the FSRU Experience, which just delivered from DSME.
Read more »
US Navy Build Programs Face Budget Pressure
Navies and Coast Guards everywhere face budgetary pressure, even in the U.S. which has the largest Navy in the world. The balance between desire for capacity and capability and pressure for affordability has never been more acute with the precarious budgetary issues presented by declining defense budgets, sequestration, continuing resolutions and government shutdowns.