Process Safety Management

The need for process safety managment (PSM) began in 1984 with the catastrophic chemical accident at the Union Carbide facility in Bhopal, India in 1984 (over 2,000 dead).  Other noteworthy accidents include the October 1989 Phillips Petroleum accident (Pasadena, Texas - 23 dead, 132 injured) the July 1990 BASF release (Cincinnati, Ohio - 2 dead) and the May 1991 IMC, Sterlington, LA, incident (8 dead, 128 injured).  Although the major events grab our attention, there are less publicized chemical accidents occurring more frequently. Since it began operations in 1998, The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has conducted a over 75 investigations of chemical accidents at a variety of industrial operations throughout the country.

The OSHA PSM regulation (Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, section 1910.119; Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals) primarily applies to manufacturing industries that utilize chemicals, transportation equipment, natural gas liquids; farm product warehousing; electricity, gas, and sanitary services, wholesale trade, and pyrotechnics and explosives manufacturers.

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about OSHA's Process Safety Management requirements and how McKinzie can help you address those issues.

The PSM rule applies to those companies that deal with one or more of the 137 listed toxic and reactive chemicals over their threshold quantity or a flammable liquid or gas present in excess of 10,000 pounds.  

To understand PSM and the OSHA rule, one must understand how the term “process” is used with PSM.

Process means any activity involving a highly hazardous chemical including using, storing, manufacturing, handling, or moving such chemicals at the site, or any combination of these activities. For purposes of this definition, any group of vessels that are interconnected, and separate vessels located in a way that could involve a highly hazardous chemical in a potential release, are considered a single process.

McKinzie can work with businesses to develop a process safety management program that leads to a safer work environment and complies with OSHA regulation.

McKinzie staff can evaluate operations with regard to PSM elements, working closely with facility personnel, reviewing existing programs, procedures, etc. to establish the current extent of PSM compliance.  Our approach will involve a  phased project that begins with identifying gaps in compliance, determining the effort needed to fill those gaps and then develop policy and procedures to ensure that all aspects of the PSM regulations are implemented.

To ensure that your facility is in compliance with the Standard, you must perform an initial hazard evaluation, which includes identification, evaluation, and control of the chemical. McKinzie Environmental has the expertise to guide your company through the hazard analysis process and help you comply.