Process Safety Management definition

Pick up a dictionary and find the entry for procedure. One definition is a particular course or mode of action. A simple statement, but to procedure users, writers, and managers concerned with process safety, the word procedure impUes much more. The Center for Chemical Process Safety s approach to Process Safety Management relies on written procedures to document both hands-on operations and maintenance activities as well as to describe the Process Safety Management S5retem itself. This book was written to help select and implement actions that will... 

There is a definite tie between process safety management and security, and in a world more sensitive to the international terrorist threat, that tie is even closer, as it should be. 

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce you to process safety management, including the background that led to specific public laws, definitions applicable to this unique area, and requirements for process safety management, both in the United States and in Canada. This is a fascinating new area for both the safety or system safety professional and the process industry practitioner. 

Although the definition of process safety primarily involves preventing catastrophic incidents, basic worker safety and health receives attention as well when building a rigorous integrated process safety management program. 

In this section, you will be introduced to process safety and be provided with some background, some unique definitions, an overview of the U.S. OSHA and EPA rules that are applicable to U.S. industry, and be shown the interface of system and process safety. There is also a chapter on the EPA rule that is akin to the OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) rule. Further, there is a chapter that discusses the implementation of the PS. Finally, there is a concluding chapter that discusses PS reviews, both external and internal, to ensure that the process remains safe, but also that improvements are periodically made to enhance operations as well as safety. 

OSHA Process Safety Management Standard consists of sixteen elements. The first two (called Applications and Definitions) are introductory only the other fourteen (listed below) are required to be complied with by covered facilities (if applicable). The required elements are ... 

Develop a definition for a major incident, and compare it to CCPS s definition. See CCPS, Plant Guidelines for Technical Management of Chemical Process Safety (1992), p. 236. 

The terms root cause or multiple root causes appear several times without a clear definition. When Jack Philley teaches the Investigating Process Safety Incidents course for the AIChE, he offers several clear definitions. He describes a root cause as a prime reason, underlying cause, and most often associated with breakdowns or flaws in the management systems. Furthermore, Philley s class notes point out definitions from the Department of Energy Guidelines in his handout, which states ... 

Hazards must be considered in the broad context of that definition. Every element within the safety management process should serve to avoid, eliminate, or control the aspects of personal activity or inactivity and the aspects of technology that present a potential for harm or damage and produce risk. 

The three management terms above are widely used but seldom understood. In presenting workshops around the world I have asked numerous groups if they understood the difference and interrelationship between authority, responsibility, and accountability, and they had admitted that a refresher would be welcome. Since these are the most important assignments in the safety management process, some clearer definitions are given here. 

From the foregoing two definitions one can conclude that PHA is a set of well Organized and systematic (meaning following a certain mle) mles to identify and characterize each of the possible hazards in the process, then to assess them and prioritize them. These must be communicated suitably with basic recommendations for mitigation and control. This means that in PHA, corrective measures are also identified to improve safety and this is communicated as recommendations. So, PHA is the foundation for process safety studies, and a risk management program to save the assets and control adverse effects to people and the environment. 

System safety must be instituted into the facility and product acquisition process (including retrofitting and minor modifications). This section delineates the system safety milestones and safety products in the procurement process. This section should describe how the general procurement process works and how systan safety should be involved in this process. For example, the safety organization should make sure that safety requirements are part of the procurement tendering process and weU defined for bidders and vendors. Poor safety requirements definition has led not just to contract disputes but more importantly has many times led to poor safety management and ultimately to contributing to accidents. 

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