The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently released a new enforcement directive that clarifies the standards for chemical safety. The directive took effect on Jan. 26.
The process safety management standard is intended to keep workers safe from hazardous chemicals, flammables and explosives. The process safety management standard applies based on the quantities of certain chemicals present at the worksite. When the standard applies, OSHA requires employers to perform a compliance audit at least every three years.
In question-and-answer format, the enforcement directive explains how employers can determine whether the standard applies in specific situations. For example, it confirms that an employer storing aerosol products in metal containers, such as hairspray or deodorant, at a warehouse must comply with the standard if the total quantity of flammable gases is greater than 10,000 pounds.
The standard could apply to chemical production facilities, petroleum refineries, explosives manufacturers, warehousing facilities and sanitary services. It does not apply to retail stores, oil or gas well drilling operations, or worksites with flammable liquids that are transferred or stored in atmospheric tanks, including 55-gallon drums, and that are kept below their normal boiling point without chilling or refrigeration, according to Heather MacDougall, an attorney with Morgan Lewis in Miami and former chair of the Occupational Safety and Health Review...
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