Under 29 CFR 1910.119, the employer is required to control all materials that are highly flammable, reactive (corrosive), explosive, or toxic. The exceptions of this rule are facilities used for retail, and oil well drilling facilities. Gasoline, propane, and other hydrocarbon fuel sources are exempt from the regulation if the quantity stored is under 10000 lb, and they are not mixed with another flammable, reactive, toxic, or explosive material.
To actively engage in the use of this program, the facility must be inspected regularly by a team, and also, any incoming products must be examined by a member of the team who is deemed competent in the field of materials science or engineering. "Analysis shall be performed by a team with expertise in engineering and process operations," describes the qualifications of the people that must be on the team. As you can see, the team must be a technically skilled team so that hazards are accurately identified. One member of the team must also be fully capable of understanding how to effectively control the hazards of any identified problem areas in the facility.
Along with inspecting does come controlling. As we know from EHS methods of control, the best way to control an issue is through engineering. Engineering can be costly, but if it is feasible, OSHA requires it to be done over any other form of control. One example of how to use engineering to control a problem would simply be to purchase and use fire safe, and corrosion safe containers for materials that are explosive, reactive, and flammable. On top of this, administrative controls can be used to put in place formal procedures for the use and storage of any materials that enter the facility. By making these policies or rules, the company is not only controlling the hazard, but also documenting the methods and manner in which the workplace is expected to operate which can lead to further documentation if there are transgressions of the policy. Finally, PPE can be used as well to cover the "trifecta of hazard control options" by providing and requiring employees to use a specific type of glove, like PVC, when working with reactive materials.
Process safety management is also used to control exposure if there in an unfortunate exposure or failure of the system. It covers protocols for exactly what to do in the event of a release, or exposure. It covers where to take an exposed person, and will provide doctors with all the pertinent information they will need to effectively treat the patient. It also covers who to contact and how/why/when to contact them in the event that the release becomes a larger issue other than environmental cleanup. For example, this program can prevent accidental environmental discharge by containing a spill to a localized area, and getting experts to the site to remedy the situation.
All in all, process safety management is important and often required for many businesses. Utilizing it may be difficult at times, but in the long run, it can save lives and thousands of dollars in damages and settlements.
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9760
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3133.html
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=INTERPRETATIONS&p_toc_level=3&p_keyvalue=1910.119&p_status=CURRENT
