As you plan for 2016, be sure to review the changes made by the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to its Process Safety Management (PSM) of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (HHCs) standard in 2015. These changes may result in additional facilities and processes being subject to the PSM standard, and may require more rigorous
[continue reading…]
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requesting information and comments to address possible changes and updates in the Process Safety Management (PSM) standard; Explosives and Blasting Agents standard; Flammable Liquids standard; and Spray Finishing standard. OSHA is also considering changes to its PSM enforcement policies. Possible PSM Changes According to the
[continue reading…]
Take a stroll through any refinery, gas plant, or maybe an offshore oil platform. Ask operators how they define process safety. The answers might be a mix of “Don’t blow the place up,” and “Keep the product in the pipe.” Those answers indicate an awareness of process safety. However, they aren’t particularly helpful in keeping
[continue reading…]
Dead legs are sections of process piping that have been isolated and no longer maintain a flow of liquid or gas. They are often formed in industrial process piping as processes are changed or modified. Dead legs have been the cause of several industrial incidents, especially during the winter months. Dead Leg Danger In February
[continue reading…]
The United Kingdom’s Process Safety Leadership Group (PSLG) final report on Safety & Environmental Standards for Fuel Storage Sites was published on 11 December 2009, the fourth anniversary of the fire and explosion at the Buncefield fuel storage facility. The recommendations contained in the report effectively become best practice for the UK fuel storage industry and are also expected to be widely referenced in countries outside of the UK.
