https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com


Process Safety Management protect works

Process Safety Management protect works

In recent years, regulators have taken a keen interest in the safe operation of companies or facilities that produce or use hazardous chemicals.This interest
  • Written by Klusman, Robert
  • 1st June 1995

In recent years, regulators have taken a keen interest in the safe operation of companies or facilities that produce or use hazardous chemicals.

This interest came about as the result of a number of serious accidents at chemical plants in the United States and foreign countries, one of the most infamous events being the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal, India.

With the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments in 1990, both the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were given the mandate of creating additional regulations for facilities possessing or using covered chemicals.

OSHA, reacting to its mandate to protect workers, acted on these initiatives and conducted in-depth inspections of a number of chemical plants. On the basis of these analyses, OSHA concluded a regulatory standard was required. The Process Safety Management (PSM) of Highly Hazardous Chemicals went into effect in May 1992. EPA’s Risk Management Program (RMP) is currently in the final rule-making stages.

PSM is a comprehensive management system that integrates human, management, administrative and technological elements into a safety program designed specifically to protect workers within a facility and, indirectly, the public and environment surrounding a facility. It is a performance-oriented regulation establishing guidelines, describing program elements and covering the activities of each element.

While the standard applies mainly to manufacturing industries, waste and wastewater facilities also are covered by the regulation. The regulation requires that companies using one or more of 130 toxic and reactive substances above a specified amount develop and implement a PSM program. Most water and wastewater facilities use chemicals such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

Other covered chemicals may be present at certain facilities. The regulation should be checked for covered chemicals and their threshold amounts.

OSHA defines process as any activity involving the use, storage, manufacturing, handling, moving or any combination of these activities at a site. When issued, it will cover most of the same elements as PSM but will mandate the protection of public health and the environment.

One important aspect of PSM is the flexibility OSHA is giving management in implementing programs. PSM is not a typical safety regulation since it does not describe specific equipment or actions required under every circumstance.

It does, however, affect all areas of the covered facility, including management, administration, engineering, operations and maintenance. It also affects the contractors and vendors who provide services to one or more of these departments, all of whom share some responsibility for successfully implementing PSM.

Some companies have trouble implementing PSM or its various elements because of the vague nature of some of the elements. The flexibility in the regulation is a two-edged sword; many companies enjoy the freedom it gives them in developing a program designed for specific situations, while others findthe lack of clear-cut guidance or specifics difficult.

Many managers see PSM as a compliance burden with no real benefit other than keeping regulators off their backs. But, they are missing the potential benefits of such a program, which include improved profitability or cost reductions, increased employee morale and enhanced public image.

The multi-faceted and interdependent nature of those key elements means that successful implementation must be done with a completely integrated approach in mind. The majority of PSM is based on a systematic approach to safety using sound engineering, good management systems and practices and common sense.

Tags:

Most Recent


  • How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient
    This article first appeared on Urgent Communication. It’s a scenario we’ve all experienced: an ambulance with a blaring siren racing against time to get a person in medical distress to a hospital through traffic. What we don’t see is 5G connectivity enabling paramedics to communicate with hospital staff via video conference and coordinate care in […]
  • Shifting city demographics present an opportunity to build coalitions, address inequality
    Minority-majority cities are driving American growth. New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, for example, combined for an estimated 16% of the nation’s total gross domestic product in 2021—future projections anticipate a continuation of this trend, and an opportunity to create coalitions to address injustices. Between 2015 and 2020, 22% of U.S. cities were majority-minority, […]
  • ARPA funds
    Spending American Rescue Plan Act funds: A primer for municipalities
    The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion legislative package that includes funding for states, local governments and tribal nations to respond to the economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While initially restricted, subsequent guidance from the federal government has expanded what those funds can be used for. […]
  • New York City, New York
    Report: While remote work is causing offices to empty out, walkable cities are still in high demand
    Given the reliance on vehicular transportation in the United States, some American cities historically haven’t prioritized being walkable in past planning and or design. But amid an unprecedented shift in the economy toward remote work, those that have are increasingly desirable for prospective residents. A new report from Smart Growth American and Places Platform, “Foot Traffic […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • NLC releases State of Cities 2021 report
  • How governments can keep employees safe as they return to work
  • Lessons from your friendly neighborhood public service employees
  • North Texas alliance partners with Marketplace.city on smart government solutions

White papers


Modernizing government services for today’s resident expectations

24th January 2023

Preparing Your Community Now for the Next Generation of Older Adults

18th October 2022

Helping Government Fleets Achieve Their Goals

30th September 2022
view all

Webinars


How To: Evaluate Digital Government Service Delivery Technologies

23rd January 2023

Using Technology to Enhance Communications

29th November 2022

Learn the benefits of transforming and automating your Contract Management process

4th November 2022
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


Report: While remote work is causing offices to empty out, walkable cities are still in high demand

26th January 2023

10 American cities with a great downtown

24th January 2023

Miami leads the way in FT-Nikkei ranking of best U.S. cities for foreign companies

20th January 2023
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient dlvr.it/ShYNcx

27th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

Shifting city demographics present an opportunity to build coalitions, address inequality dlvr.it/ShYMMm

27th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

Spending American Rescue Plan Act funds: A primer for municipalities dlvr.it/ShXzvl

27th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

Report: While remote work is causing offices to empty out, walkable cities are still in high demand dlvr.it/ShVhBW

26th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

Managing landslides along road corridors using remote sensing dlvr.it/ShTpL6

26th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

Report: Prioritizing neighborhood infill, expanding transit options increases neighborhood resilience dlvr.it/ShRrFM

25th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

10 American cities with a great downtown dlvr.it/ShNxXH

24th January 2023
AmerCityCounty

With a few strategies and tools, public procurement directors can recruit new, diverse staffers dlvr.it/ShNnj4

24th January 2023

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.