MOS 5201 Safety Engineering Unit 5 Case Study

Unit V Case Study

Choose one of the following options for this assignment. The Case Study should be thoroughly discussed in a minimum two-page paper based upon your readings. Any outside sources used to support your statements should be appropriately cited using APA style writing.

Assignment Option 1: Research a Case Study of your choosing as it relates to OSHA and Health Management and Engineering within this unit or to your professional career field. Summarize the Case Study, outline and describe the author’s main points, and provide your own critical analysis of the study. Include any questions or facts that you believe should have been addressed within the Case Study. Tie the Case Study to three objectives for this unit.

A good source of available Case Studies is the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) website: http://www.csb.gov/. Click on the “Investigations” tab to view current and completed investigations.

Assignment Option 2: Read the Case Study titled “Heat Exchanger Rupture and Ammonia Release in Houston, Texas” (No. 2008-06-I-TX). The Case Study can be found at the U.S. Chemical Safety Board website: http://www.csb.gov/. Click on the “Investigations” tab, and then click on “Completed Investigations.” Search for “Goodyear Heat Exchanger Rupture.”

Open the Case Study under the “Documents” heading.

1. Summarize the sequence of events that led up to the disaster. What preventative measures would you have taken to make sure the pressure did not build up to the subsequent explosion?

2. Critique the accident investigation as it was performed by the government official. What other facts or steps would you need in order to make a proper assessment of the accident?

3. Why is it important to account for all personnel when an accident occurs? What steps could Goodyear management have made to ensure all employees were accounted for?

4. Conclude with your own thoughts on the Case Study. Did you agree or disagree with any methods the investigators used? Why are pressure and electrical hazards so dangerous?