PROCESS SAFETY MANAGEMENT
TRAINING | DRILLS | OHSA COMPLIANCE
WHAT IS PSM?
Process Safety Management (PSM) has been developed by OSHA to prevent or minimize the consequences of a catastrophic release of toxic, reactive, flammable or explosive Highly Hazardous Chemicals (HHC) from a process. A process is defined as any activity including use, storage, manufacturing, handling or the on-site movement of HHC's. The process can include any group of vessels that are interconnected or separate vessels that are located such that a HHC could be involved in a potential release. The goal of All Phase Environmental, Inc. is to help you to develop your PSM plan or revise your existing one, so you can be assured your program meets the OSHA requirements and your employees are working under the safest possible conditions.
PSM
REGULATIONS.
The PSM standards were developed and are regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The regulations are codified in 29 CFR 1910.119.
WHO MUST DEVELOP PSM PLANS:
A facility is required to develop a PSM plan if it stores or uses a chemical in quantities greater than their threshold amounts as defined by the OSHA regulations. The list includes toxics, reactive compounds, explosives, pyrotechnics, flammable liquids and gases.
WHO IS EXEMPT FROM PSM:
The standard does not apply to retail facilities, normally unoccupied remote facilities, oil or gas well drilling or servicing activities. Hydrocarbon fuels used solely for work place consumption as a fuel are not covered (if such fuels are not part of a process containing another HHC covered by the standard). Atmospheric tank storage and associated transfer of flammable liquids which are kept below their normal boiling point without benefit of chilling or refrigeration are not covered by the PSM standard unless the atmospheric tank is connected to a process or is sited in close proximity to a covered process such that an incident in a covered process could involve the atmospheric tank.
PSM CONTENTS:
All Phase Environmental will assist you in putting your plan together or updating your existing plan. The following is a list of the sections of your PSM plan:
1.
Process Safety Information.
4.
Operating Procedures and Training.
7.
Mechanical Integrity.
10.
Incident Investigation.
2.
Employee Involvement.
5.
Contractors.
8.
Hot Work.
11.
Emergency Planning and Response.
3.
Process Hazard Analysis.
6.
Pre-startup Safety Review.
9.
Management of Change.
12.
Compliance Audits.
SUMMARY OF PSM REQUIREMENTS:
The PSM plan will develop controls, training programs and management systems that will be used to insure the processes involving HHCs are operated in the safest manner possible.