Issue 1 – Oct 2013

PreDigest
What is Process Safety ?
What is “Process Safety” ?
Industrial safety in the chemical industry is made up of three key complementary themes – Occupational Safety, Process
Safety and Consequence Mitigation. Occupational Safety is primarily the management of personal safety. Process Safety
focuses on preventing fires, explosions and accidental chemical releases in process facilities or other facilities dealing
with hazardous material. Consequence Mitigation refers to pre-planned and coordinated actions designed to reduce or
counter impacts of such incidents.

What is “Process Safety Management” (PSM) ?

The PSM standard many talk about today generally refers to the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals standard (29
CFR 1910.119), which contains requirements for the management of hazards associated with processes using highly
hazardous chemicals.
Releases of toxic, reactive, or flammable liquids and gases in processes involving highly hazardous chemicals have been
reported in various industries. Regardless of industry, there is a potential for an accidental release any time they are not
properly controlled, creating the possibility of catastrophe.
With several catastrophic releases of chemicals leading to fires, explosions and fatalities around the world, OSHA
introduced the PSM standard in 1992. This standard contains requirements for preventing or minimising the
consequences of catastrophic releases of chemicals.

What are some of the regulations around the world ?

The catastrophic accident at Flixborough in 1974 led to major changes in the United
Kingdom regulations (COMAH) and the Seveso, Italy, accident in 1976 led to the
European Union’s Seveso directive.
As opposed to OSHA’s 14-element PSM, the Center for Chemical Process Safety’s
(CCPS) approach, Risk Based Process Safety Management, covers four pillars and twenty
elements. The four pillars are Commit to Process Safety, Understand Hazards and Risk,
Manage Risk and Learn from Experience. One of the key differences is its inclusion of
human factor elements, such as Process Safety Culture and Conduct of Operations,
complementing the other elements in reducing human error.
In Singapore, the process safety framework goes beyond legislation and takes on a
collaborative and industry-led approach. The reference document used is the Singapore
Standard SS 506: Occupational Safety and Health Management System, Part 3:
Requirements for the Chemical Industry, which is an amalgamation of process safety
elements and occupational safety and health elements.

Where can I find more information ?

Process safety accidents continue to occur even with legislation aimed at curbing such
catastrophes. Incident investigations have highlighted the importance of having a clear
understanding of the principles of process safety management throughout an organisation.
Some of the web resources are:
§ American Petroleum Institute – www.api.org
§ Center for Chemical Process Safety – www.aiche.org/ccps SCIC’s
§ Chemical Safety Board, United States of America – www.csb.gov Guidebook on
§ European Process Safety Centre – www.epsc.org Process Safety
§ Health and Safety Executive, United Kingdom – www.hse.gov.uk
§ Occupational Safety and Health Administration, United States
of America – www.osha.gov

Process Safety is Everybody’s Responsibility!

An initiative from the Process and Engineering Committee
SINGAPORE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY COUNCIL LIMITED (SCIC)
8 Jurong Town Hall Road, #25-04, The JTC Summit, Singapore 609434
Tel : 6267 8891 Fax : 6267 8893