A-Z Safety & Health Topics

Process safety management (PSM) (Refineries and Process Safety Management (PSM))

Woman in a red plaid flannel shirt marking off items on a checklist on a clipboard next to a pipe valve. Caption reads: Establishing and implementing written procedures for operations and maintenance is critical to avoid a catastrophic release of chemicals.The unexpected release of highly hazardous chemicals can be deadly, leaving profound and lasting impacts on families, businesses, and communities.

In 2010, seven workers died at the Tesoro petroleum refinery in Anacortes when a heat exchanger used in the refining process exploded. Two other incidents in 1998 at the Equilon petroleum refinery in Anacortes and Advanced Silicon Materials in Moses Lake claimed the lives of eight workers.

The potential for such releases exists any time toxic, reactive, or flammable liquids and gases are not properly controlled. Process safety management (PSM) is a system for managing the use of highly hazardous chemicals during plant processes and activities to prevent risk for accidental releases.

If you are unsure whether you have processes at your business that are covered by the PSM rule, please review the Application section of the rule and seek professional assistance if needed. Even if your processes are not covered by the standard, this management system is still a valuable tool for preventing disaster.

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