PROCESS SAFETY MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROJECT
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Unexpected releases of highly hazardous toxic, reactive, or flammable chemicals create the possibility of a disaster for workers, employers, and communities. OSHA's Process Safety Management Standard helps prevent accidental releases of highly hazardous chemicals, thus protecting employees, as well as plant neighbors. Effective worker training about PSM helps achieve safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces.
The New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) can provide PSM training for your employees at your workplace. This free training includes a training workbook. This WEC training is supported by a grant from the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Training can be from two to eight hours.
Free OSHA funded training on their new inspection policy.
On November 30, 2011, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) covering facilities that use highly hazard chemicals. Its purpose is to protect workers from injuries and deaths caused by catastrophic releases.
According to OSHA's press release:
"The program establishes policies and procedures for inspecting workplaces that are covered by OSHA's process safety management (PSM) standard. The program's inspection process includes detailed questions designed to gather facts related to PSM requirements and verification that employers' written and implemented PSM programs are consistent. The intent of the NEP is to conduct focused inspections at facilities randomly selected from a list of worksites likely to have highly hazardous chemicals in quantities covered by the standard."
OSHA create a list based on NAISC codes and other industrial classifications. If your facility stores or uses large quantities of certain highly hazardous chemicals, it may be randomly selected for an inspection under the Process Safety Management (PSM) standard based on this list.
To see if your facility may be covered, check the "List of Highly Hazardous Chemicals".
The NJ Work Environment Council's (WEC) Preventing Chemical Accidents free training program can help prepare you for an OSHA NEP inspection. WEC's training curriculum covers key components of the PSM standard to help gain an understanding of potential health and safety hazards. All training material is approved by OSHA.
Effective training about the PSM requirements can help us all achieve safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces.
We can provide training on site or you may attend an upcoming public program on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 or Thursday, June 7, 2012 at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. More information will be available soon. Sign-up to receive training announcements.
About PSM
In New Jersey, PSM regulates facilities including certain chemical plants, oil refineries, food processors, electric utilities, warehouses, and public and private sector water and sewage treatment operations.
PSM may also cover other types of facilities. PSM has special provisions for contractors working in covered facilities.
A key PSM requirement is a process hazard analysis (PHA). A PHA is a careful review of what could go wrong and what safeguards are needed to prevent releases of highly hazardous chemicals.
PSM also mandates written operating procedures, employee training and participation, pre-startup safety reviews, evaluation of the mechanical integrity of critical equipment, contractor requirements, and written procedures for managing change. The standard also requires a permit system for hot work, investigation of incidents involving releases of covered chemicals or "near misses", emergency action plans, and compliance audits by employers at least every three years.
WEC's training curriculum covers key aspects of the PSM standard. Training introduces the concept of systems of safety and accident prevention and why facilities should establish an organizational structure to oversee PSM implementation. We address OSHA's performance-based requirements for a plant "mechanical integrity" program. Training also covers accident, incident, and near-miss investigations, focusing on root causes.
We also can provide training on closely related subjects, such as the New Jersey Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act (TCPA), employer and worker/union rights to participate during OSHA and TCPA inspections, and development of effective labor-management safety and health committees.
Download Preventing Chemical Accidents: OSHA's Process Safety Management Standard |
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Participatory Training Method
WEC's PSM training relies on participatory activities. Instructors actively engage attendees and do not lecture. Participants work in small groups, learning important information, problem-solving, and developing critical thinking skills. Participants receive extensive and free training materials on PSM.
Availability
WEC PSM training is available free of charge to employers and labor organizations. In facilities where unions represent the employees, provision of WEC training is coordinated with both the union and management.
This material was produced under grant SH-17813-08-60-F-34 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.