Simplified Process Safety Management for Smaller Companies

Small companies that don’t exceed the threshold quantity requirements to be covered by OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) of Highly Hazardous Chemicals Standard are still handling hazardous materials that may pose risks to their employees and the public. However, many of these companies have limited resources and find the idea of implementing an entire PSM program daunting. 

For example, a Danvers, MA chemical facility had only 15 employees in 2006. On November 22, 2006, the facility released a flammable vapor that reached an ignition source and exploded. The company was destroyed along with 24 neighbroing houses and six businesses. They did not have a written process safety program, and the emergency responders and community were not aware of the hazards at this commercial business. 

These companies should start with a limited process safety program and work towards establishing a culture that recognizes process safety to be equally important as personnel safety. Once this initial framework and culture are in place, companies can slowly build and adapt their PSM program to appropriately manage their risks. This presentation will deliver a practical framework and provide steps on how to integrate a simplified PSM framework into your existing personnel safety program.