Process Safety Management and Water Treatment

Abstract

The Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 required the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop a chemical safety standard containing minimum requirements to prevent accidental releases of chemicals that could pose a threat to employees. OSHA's Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals regulation became law in 1992 and applies to any water treatment facility that uses chlorine in 1‐ton (900 kg) cylinders unless it is unoccupied and remote. The PSM standard is unlike many other OSHA regulations in that it is performance‐based rather than prescriptive. This makes compliance more challenging as each process safety management system is different and must consider factors such as the workplace culture and the abilities of employees. This paper examines each of the 16 paragraphs within the regulation to assist in the development of a well‐documented safety plan.