Ensuring Process Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals

Following the tragedy at a Phillips petroleum chemical plant in 1989, where an explosion was sparked by an ethylene leak, the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identified the need for comprehensive Process Safety Management. In 1992, OSHA issued the Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals, which lists proper controls and steps to manage process hazards and avoid risks.  



Hazardous chemicals can have catastrophic consequences if released into the environment unexpectedly. Regulations outlined in OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) are designed to help employees better identify the hazards posed by operations and how to use process instrumentation, such as standpipe gauges, correctly.

Here’s an overview of the three facets of process safety information outlined by the OSHA:

1. Information pertaining to hazards of the highly hazardous chemicals (HHCs) used or produced by the process

Before an operation can be carried out, all information pertaining to the hazardous chemical must be accessible to all relevant personnel. At minimum, this should include physical data, toxicity information, reactivity data, thermal and chemical stability data, corrosivity data, and the risks of inadvertent mixing. Safety data sheets offer excellent insights when gathering this information.  

2. Information pertaining to the technology of the process

The use of simplified process flow diagrams or block flow diagrams should be prevalent, so users know about the basic process. In addition to this, users must also be supplied with information about the technology, such as safe upper and lower limits for flows, temperatures, pressures, compositions, etc.

Along with this information, there should also be some explanation of what can happen in case the limits are crossed and how to deal with the situation.

3. Information pertaining to the equipment in the process

Any information related to the equipment, such as piping and instrument diagrams, construction materials used, electrical classifications, design codes, ventilation systems, process instrumentation and gauges, safety systems, and energy balances for the process must be clearly documented.



The data collected should be updated regularly and accessible to workers at all times.

 

Ensure Safety with Process Instrumentation & Gauges 

Investing in process instrumentation equipment and ensuring your employees know how to use it is the first step towards safety.

Contact Instruments is a reliable supplier of high-quality process instrumentation in Canada and the United States. Their popular products include custom overmolded cables, pump stands, and clipper weight indicators for drilling rigs. Reach out to the company today to find out which process instrumentation equipment meets your needs.

 

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