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Copyright 2025 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.
FEATURED NEWS
2025-12-31T06:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsIndustry NewsFleet SafetyDriver qualificationsDriving RecordsDriver qualification and hiringFocus AreaEnglishTransportationUSA
5,000 drivers placed out of service in 2025 for vision compliance violations
In 2025, approximately 5,000 commercial drivers were placed out of service (OOS) during roadside inspections for failing to meet vision qualification requirements, ranking as the #12 top driver OOS violation of the year.
The most common issue? Drivers whose licenses carried a “corrective lenses restriction” were not wearing glasses or contacts at the time of inspection. Previous years showed much lower volumes, with vision violations ranking at #17.
Regulatory requirements
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations are clear: If a driver’s license or medical certification indicates corrective lenses are required, the driver must be wearing them. Failure to do so results in an immediate out-of-service order and a citation. This rule applies even if the driver underwent vision correction surgery but neglected to update their license and medical certification.
Corrective vision surgery options have expanded significantly over the past 25 years, allowing many drivers to meet vision standards without glasses or contacts. However, compliance doesn’t end with surgery. Drivers must take a vision test at their state motor vehicle department to remove the corrective lenses restriction from their license and schedule an exam with a certified medical examiner to update their medical certification. Without these updates, drivers remain legally obligated to wear corrective lenses—even if they no longer need them.
The bottom line for vision requirements
Vision requirements are not just bureaucratic details; they are safety standards designed to protect drivers and the public. Ignoring them can lead to costly downtime, citations, and potential liability.
Ultimately, it’s important to understand that drivers who undergo vision correction must promptly update all documentation to avoid being sidelined.
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RECENT INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS
2025-12-31T06:00:00Z
NewsProcess Safety ManagementPersonal Protective EquipmentRisk Management ProgramRisk Management ProgramFlammable LiquidsEmergency AlarmsIn-Depth ArticleEnglishPersonal Protective EquipmentEmergency Planning - OSHAIndustry NewsSafety & HealthConstruction SafetyGeneral Industry SafetyHazardous Materials Safety - OSHAFocus AreaUSA
CSB video exposes chemical safety failures that sparked deadly blast
A mixture of flammable vapors and resin liquid escaped through the seal of a closed manway of an operating low-pressure vessel. Then, a flammable vapor cloud spread and within minutes it found an ignition source, causing an explosion and fire. One plant employee was killed and eight others suffered third-degree burns and crushed or broken bones.
Watch the incident unfold in the latest Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) animated video. The 18-minute video explains the conditions that led to the incident and highlights key safety issues. The vessel was covered by OSHA’s Process Safety Management standard.
What happened?
An operator was overseeing a batch operation in a vessel (called a kettle) at a resin plant. While he left the room briefly, the kettle agitator unexpectedly shut down. He returned shortly but did not realize the agitator was off. Soon, the employee pushed a button to begin cooling the kettle contents. Normally, the agitator would be running, but it remained stopped.
A half hour later, the operator began adding a flammable solvent into the kettle to further cool the contents. Once the solvent was added, he waited. Meanwhile, the solvent and the hot resin did not mix, leaving the resin settled at the bottom and the solvent floating on top. After another half hour, the operator noticed that the contents were much hotter than expected. He investigated and noticed the agitator was not spinning. Immediately, he turned the agitator on.
With the agitator on, the solvent began to vaporize, increasing the pressure inside the kettle in seconds. When the pressure reached 9 pounds per square inch gauge (psig), a mixture of hot resin and flammable solvent vapor began spewing out through the seal of the manway at the top of the kettle.
The operator had trouble seeing and breathing. Closing his eyes, he tried to find the emergency-stop button but failed. He then evacuated the kettle room 20 seconds later and escaped the plant only 30 seconds before the vapor reached an ignition source and triggered an explosion. The explosion ignited flammable materials, causing a large fire.
Some employees evacuated by running through flames. Eight were transported to area hospitals with injuries like burns and fractures. One required a leg amputation. Firefighters found one employee fatally injured by thermal injuries and inhalation of products of combustion.
Safety issues
CSB’s investigation report identified numerous safety issues:
- Lack of mechanical integrity of the new manway installed on the kettle three months before the incident. The kettle was known to potentially build pressure up to 15 psig, but the plant only leak checked it up to 4 psig. In other words, it did not adequately pressure test equipment after alterations.
- No interlocks installed or configured to prevent the addition of solvent when the agitator was off.
- Not equipping computer panel indicators with alarms to communicate the agitator status.
- Poor emergency preparedness. Some gas monitors detected the release and sent an email to an offsite employee but did not sound an audible alarm to notify onsite employees of the need to evacuate. Employees were also not trained to recognize and respond to the presence of a flammable vapor cloud and its associated hazards. (An employee approached the release to investigate instead of evacuating.)
- Lack of flame-resistant personal protective equipment (PPE). Some resin plant operators were allowed to wear cotton short-sleeved shirts while working in proximity to flammable materials. (Proper PPE may have reduced or prevented the burn injuries, CSB argues.)
Cause
CSB determined the cause of the fatal explosion and fire was the release of flammable solvent through the seal of the closed manway that was not properly designed, constructed, or pressure tested to a design pressure appropriate for the process. The absence of engineering controls, but also inadequate emergency preparedness and a lack of flame-resistant uniforms, were contributing factors.
Lessons for the chemical industry
A lot of facilities deal with flammable and other hazardous chemicals. CSB urges facilities to consider these key lessons:
- Ensure equipment can safely operate within the safe operating limits.
- After equipment alterations, assure quality for normal as well as abnormal conditions.
- Consider both mechanical and chemical risks when designing equipment.
- Use the hierarchy of controls and prevention-through-design principles.
- Install lower explosive limit (LEL) detectors that trigger automatic shutdowns of process equipment with audible and visible alarms, if the facility handles flammable materials.
- Train employees in what actions to take when alarms are activated.
- Know the hazard characteristics (e.g., dense vapor cloud formation) of the chemicals present.
- Train employees in how to identify and react to hazardous situations.
- Provide employees with PPE that is protective against the hazards they may encounter in an emergency.
Key to remember
CSB issued a video highlighting the key safety issues of a real-life incident. The video urges the chemical industry to learn from it.
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2025-12-31T06:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsEnglishAssociate RelationsHR GeneralistIn-Depth ArticleUSAHR ManagementWellnessWellnessFocus AreaHuman Resources
Encourage these healthy habits in 2026
Practicing healthy habits has benefits for workers and employers alike. Workers benefit by reducing their risk of chronic disease and increasing their chances of living a longer, healthier life. Employers benefit from less absenteeism and higher productivity.
To get 2026 off to a healthy start, practice and share these habits:
- An emphasis on fruits and vegetables. Try to eat 2 cups of fruits and 3 cups of vegetables each day. Look for creative ways to enjoy them: Blend fruits and vegetables into smoothies, have fruit for a snack, experiment with vegetable soups, and add spinach to scrambled eggs. Choose a frozen vegetable blend you’ve never tried before and heat it in the microwave for a quick side dish. In addition, make sure your lunch includes a serving of vegetables. Dark leafy greens, steamed carrots, crunchy snap peas, and raw veggies with hummus dip are all options.
- Move more. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. Go for a brisk 30-minute walk on five days of the week or take 10-minute exercise breaks three times a day. Jogging, stair climbing, dancing, and pickleball are all options. Also do muscle-strengthening activities such as (push-ups, bicep curls, and squats) twice a week.
- Drink water rather than sugary drinks. This reduces the number of calories you consume and it’s better for your teeth, as sugary drinks can lead to cavities. Fill a reusable bottle with water and keep it with you when you’re at work. Add a lemon wedge for some zing.
- Avoid alcohol. Alcohol consumption increases the risk for cancer, and excessive use can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and liver disease. If you drink, do so in moderation (one drink or less in a day for women, or two for men).
- Make sleep a priority. Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to reduce stress, improve your mood, and reduce your risk for diabetes and heart disease. Try to go to bed and get up at roughly the same time each day.
Key to remember: Eating right, moving more, and getting enough sleep are great habits that will get the year off to a healthy start.
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2025-12-30T06:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsAboveground Storage TanksEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Oil Spill PreventionOil Spill PreventionEnvironmentalIn-Depth ArticleCWA ComplianceFocus AreaEnglishTank SystemsUSA
Aboveground storage tanks: SPCC integrity test FAQs
Integrity matters, especially when it’s the one factor standing between your aboveground storage container and the accidental release of thousands of gallons of oil. Consistently checking the structural soundness of aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) is vital to preventing spills and the potential related consequences.
Facilities covered by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule must inspect and test ASTs for integrity regularly. By comparing the test results, facilities can monitor changes in the condition of ASTs and determine whether it’s safe to keep using them.
Consider these FAQs about inspections and tests to help ensure your facility’s aboveground tanks are structurally sound.
What do industry standards have to do with integrity testing?
The answer in one word is everything. EPA’s SPCC rule requires facilities to regularly inspect and test ASTs in accordance with industry standards (40 CFR 112.8(c)(6)). The standards are technical guidelines that serve as the minimum practices accepted for inspections and tests.
The regulations require facilities to develop and implement an SPCC Plan to prevent, prepare for, and respond to oil spills. In the plan, facilities establish how they’ll conduct integrity inspections and tests for ASTs (referred to as bulk storage containers in the regulations). If your SPCC Plan states that the facility will use a specific industry standard for integrity inspections and tests, it must comply with all relevant parts of that standard.
In EPA’s Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC) Program Bulk Storage Container Inspection Fact Sheet, the agency references two industry standards frequently used for integrity inspections and tests:
- American Petroleum Institute (API) Standard 653, Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction; and
- Steel Tank Institute (STI) SP001, Standard for the Inspection of Aboveground Storage Tanks.
When should facilities conduct integrity tests?
EPA requires facilities to inspect or test ASTs for integrity:
- On a regular schedule, and
- Whenever you make material repairs.
Your facility must use industry standards to determine the types and frequency of inspections and tests needed. These considerations have to be based on the AST’s size, configuration, and design.
Who can conduct integrity tests?
Generally, industry standards mandate that certified individuals conduct integrity inspections and tests. The standards should describe the qualifications an individual must have to be considered certified. This may involve certifying individuals in your facility or hiring certified personnel.
What are the types of integrity inspections and testing?
The proper type of integrity inspection or test (which must be nondestructive) depends on the specific container and its configuration. Industry standards identify the type of inspection or test needed and may require using a combination of methods. Examples include:
- Acoustic emissions testing,
- Helium leak testing,
- Hydrostatic testing,
- Inert gas leak testing,
- Liquid penetrant examinations,
- Magnetic flux leakage scanning,
- Magnetic particle examinations,
- Radiographic testing,
- Ultrasonic testing,
- Ultrasonic thickness measurements,
- Vacuum box testing,
- Visual inspections, and
- Weld inspections.
Industry standards may require your facility to establish baseline conditions for ASTs that haven’t undergone integrity testing or where such information isn’t available (e.g., when a business purchases a facility with ASTs). The baseline evaluation determines the container’s metal thickness, corrosion rates, and likely remaining service. Facilities then compare the results of subsequent integrity inspections and tests with the baseline data.
What are the recordkeeping requirements?
The SPCC rule requires facilities to maintain integrity inspection and test records (namely, comparison records) for at least 3 years. These records must be signed by the supervisor or inspector and kept with the SPCC Plan. Consider maintaining these records for the life of the AST, especially since many industry standards recommend it.
What’s a hybrid inspection program?
Sometimes, an alternative inspection program may be more appropriate than using an industry standard. If your facility and a certified Professional Engineer (PE) determine this to be the case, you can implement an environmentally equivalent inspection program. The SPCC rule also allows some facilities to replace certain parts of an industry standard with environmentally equivalent approaches.
However, these hybrid (site-specific) programs have additional regulatory requirements. A facility with a hybrid inspection program must include in the SPCC Plan:
- A certification by the PE of the alternative program,
- An explanation of why the facility isn’t using industry standards,
- A comprehensive description of the alternative program, and
- A description of how the alternative provides the same environmental protection as the relevant industry standard.
What about state requirements?
State and local AST regulations must be at least as stringent as EPA’s requirements. However, some may require additional or stricter compliance obligations. Verify AST rules with the state environmental agency.
Key to remember: Industry standards determine how a facility conducts integrity inspections and tests on aboveground storage tanks.
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2025-12-30T06:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsIndustry NewsAssociate Benefits & CompensationAssociate RelationsHR GeneralistFamily and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)HR ManagementEnglishFocus AreaHuman ResourcesUSA
Employer wins case despite not giving FMLA notices
Even if employers fail to give employees the required notices under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), they can still win a claim for firing an employee for poor job performance.
Case in point
Account Manager Patricia had been doing fine until 2020, when she took on more challenging accounts.
In October, Patricia’s daughter required surgery, so she requested time off from Adam, her supervisor. Adam told Patricia to take the time she needed.
Over the next three months, Patricia requested and took a total of 7.5 intermittent days off to care for her daughter. Neither Patricia nor Adam mentioned the FMLA, and Patricia’s time off wasn’t treated as FMLA leave. Patricia instead used some of her paid time off days.
Patricia’s job performance continued to suffer. She took a day off on February 12 to take her mother to a doctor’s appointment. Again, neither Patricia nor Adam mentioned the FMLA.
Scrutiny over a particularly difficult account made Patricia feel like she shouldn’t take much time off. Nobody, however, made negative comments about her taking time off or discouraged her from taking it.
Because of her poor job performance, the employer fired Patricia on February 24, 2021. Patricia sued the employer for violating her FMLA rights.
In court
Patricia argued that Adam discouraged her from taking more leave by subjecting her to undue scrutiny and criticism of her job performance after she requested leave. The court disagreed, saying that Patricia took all the leave she requested, and Adam’s comments didn’t mention her leave.
Patricia also argued that the employer interfered with her FMLA rights because it didn’t give her an FMLA eligibility/rights & responsibilities notice and a designation notice. The court disagreed with Patricia again, saying that failure to follow these notice requirements is interference only if an employee was prejudiced by this failure. Patricia, however, wasn’t prejudiced. She was granted all her requested leave.
Even though the employer fired Patricia only 12 days after she took leave, the court said that timing wasn’t enough. The employer had documented Patricia’s poor work performance even before she began taking leave.
Haran v. Orange Business Services, Second Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 24-2312, November 25, 2025.
Key to remember: Just because employers fail to give employees FMLA notices doesn’t always mean they will lose in court. Best practice, however, is to give the notices.
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2025-12-30T06:00:00Z
NewsIndustry NewsFleet SafetyDefensive drivingCMV drivingFocus AreaIn-Depth ArticleEnglishTransportationUSA
New year, new opportunity for your drivers to check in with their habits
Many people use the new year as an opportunity to start fresh. This looks different for everyone and can include setting new goals, changing habits, and more. These goals often include things like health and fitness goals, personal finance goals, and more. This year, consider asking your drivers to reflect on their habits and identify what they can improve upon. Here are a few common items for drivers to work on.
Trip Planning
Are your drivers planning their trips ahead of time? Do they check the route for potential adverse weather conditions, construction, and changes to traffic patterns? Do they look for truck stops along their route and plan their breaks out? If not, this is a great time to work some of those items into their daily routines.
Inspections
Do your drivers complete a thorough pretrip inspection before every shift? Are they continuing to inspect throughout the day, as well as upon finishing their days? Do they do the bare minimum to mark it as completed, or are they going above and beyond to ensure the vehicle is safe to drive?
Defensive Driving
Ask your drivers to reflect on their driving habits. Do they drive defensively? Are they maintaining a good following distance, eliminating distractions, and staying alert and ready to respond to the actions of other drivers?
Personal health and fitness
Health and wellness goals such as increased activity levels, prioritized sleep schedules, improved hygiene, and healthier diets can help drivers stay more alert while behind the wheel.
Start a new hobby
Oftentimes, being away from home and on the road can get lonely and boring. Encourage your drivers to find new ways to entertain themselves during their free time. Hobbies and leisure activities help relieve stress and allow drivers to start the next day of driving feeling fresh and alert.
Key to remember: The new year brings new opportunities for your drivers to check in on their existing habits, as well as form new ones.
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Copyright 2025 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.