Process Safety Management
OSHA’s standard for managing highly hazardous chemical processes, 29 CFR 1910.119.
What it is
Process Safety Management (PSM) is OSHA’s standard for the management of hazards associated with processes using highly hazardous chemicals. The standard requires process hazard analysis, operating procedures, training, mechanical integrity, and management of change.
Plain-English explanation
PSM applies to facilities handling chemicals above defined threshold quantities. Its purpose is preventing catastrophic releases, the kind of incident that affects communities, not just workers.
PSM is one of the most prescriptive and detailed OSHA standards. Compliance programs are typically multi-year initiatives at affected facilities.
Why it matters
PSM violations can carry significant penalties. More importantly, PSM failures are associated with the worst-case industrial incidents: explosions, releases, and multi-fatality events.