OSHA, from time to time, issues “interpretations” that explain how the various language in its regulations will be enforced. On June 5, 2015, an OSHA memorandum was issued that addressed several topics regarding RAGAGEP. One of the topics of the memorandum addressed the words “shall” and “should” as used in the RAGAGEP.  While these two simple words should be straightforward in interpretation, we shall see that it is not necessarily the case. First, “shall” was discussed as u

For those in the natural refrigeration industry, IIAR often feels like a set of high holidays, a time when professionals from across the country come together to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and celebrate the work that makes this space so meaningful. IIAR 2026 lived up to that expectation and more. Amidst a packed schedule of exhibit hall hours, technical sessions, and countless conversations, our team had the opportunity to do what matters most: connect. Whethe

There’s a consistent pattern behind most serious injuries and fatalities in industrial work. They rarely start with a catastrophic failure or a single dramatic mistake. More often, they begin with something small: PPE not worn correctly, a fire watch left unattended, a permit step skipped, or a shortcut taken to stay on schedule. In the moment, these actions don’t feel significant. They’re easy to justify. The job needs to get done. Time is tight. “We’ve done it this way befo

For more than a decade, the Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program served as the United States’ primary regulatory framework for protecting high-risk chemical facilities from terrorist threats. But on July 28, 2023, Congress allowed CFATS’s statutory authority to expire, effectively shutting down the program overnight. If you work in ammonia refrigeration, chemical manufacturing, energy, distribution, or any sector handli