Effective January 17, 2017, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued new instructions concerning its National Emphasis Program (NEP) as it relates to chemical process subject to Process Safety Management (PSM). See Directive Number CPL-03-00-021. PSM requirements are codified at 29 CFR 1910.119. Prior NEPs were implemented for Petroleum Refining in 2007 and
EPA RMP Requirements: Third Party Audits and Privilege
On March 14, 2016, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed changes to the Risk Management Plan Program (“RMP”) Rule. On January 13, 2017, the EPA published a new final rule. This a second in a planned series that will address five major changes: root cause analysis for near misses, third-party audits, inherently safer technology,
EPA Amends the Risk Management Program (RMP) Rule
On March 14, 2016, Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed changes to the RMP Rule . On December 21, 2016, the EPA disclosed its changes via a Pre-Publication Copy.
In the proposed rule, the EPA essentially agreed that the scope and trigger for post incident investigation was not universally understood or applied. The final rule
Modified OSHA Policy Statement Defining Applicability: The “One Percent Rule” and Aqueous Mixtures
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) published a Request for Information (“RFI”) on December 9, 2013 concerning possible changes to the Process Safety Management (“PSM”) program codified at 29 C.F.R. 1910.119. See 78 Fed. Reg. 73756 (Dec. 9, 2013). Likewise, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published an RFI on July 31, 2014 relating
EPA’s Proposed Revisions to RMP Rules have Arrived
The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published a Request for Information (“RFI”) on July 31, 2014 relating to possible changes to the Risk Management Program (“RMP”) rules codified at 40 C.F.R. Part 68. See 79 Fed. Reg. 44604 (July 31, 2014). On June 19, 2015, OSHA, the EPA, and the Department of Homeland Security held a
Awaiting the Arrival of Proposed Revisions to OSHA PSM and EPA’s RMP Rules: New OSHA Policy Statement Defining RAGAGEP
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) published a Request for Information (“RFI”) on December 9, 2013 concerning possible changes to the Process Safety Management (“PSM”) program codified at 29 C.F.R. 1910.119. See 78 Fed. Reg. 73756 (Dec. 9, 2013). Likewise, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published an RFI on July 31, 2014 relating
Awaiting the Arrival of Proposed Revisions to OSHA PSM and EPA’s RMP Rules: Requiring Third-Party Compliance Audits
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) published a Request for Information (“RFI”) on December 9, 2013 concerning possible changes to the Process Safety Management (“PSM”) program codified at 29 C.F.R. 1910.119. See 78 Fed. Reg. 73756 (Dec. 9, 2013 ). Likewise, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published an RFI on July 31, 2014 relating
Awaiting the Arrival of Proposed Revisions to OSHA PSM and EPA’s RMP Rules: Atmospheric Storage Tanks
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) published a Request for Information (“RFI”) on December 9, 2013 concerning possible changes to the Process Safety Management (“PSM”) program codified at 29 C.F.R. 1910.119. See 78 Fed. Reg. 73756 (Dec. 9, 2013). Likewise, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) published an RFI on July 31, 2014 relating
What is Process Safety Management (PSM) and What is a Risk Management Program (RMP)?
Both OSHA’s Process Safety Management (“PSM”) and EPA’s Chemical Accident Prevention regulations are regulatory programs developed to address process safety in the “Process Industry.” A “Process” is defined broadly and includes any activity that uses, stores, manufactures, handles or moves hazardous chemicals. Since the definition is broad, it includes much more than refineries and chemical
How Do These Common Elements Work Together to Promote Safety?
Process safety information (“PSI”) is the foundation on which the rest of the PSM and RMP elements are built. Process safety information is that information that is needed to make sound safety decisions and it includes descriptions of the hazardous chemicals, the technology of the process, and the equipment in the process. Both