The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard [29 CFR 1910.119(j)] require plant management to identify and address hazards. Further challenging plant management, the mechanical integrity (MI) element of the PSM has been difficult for many facilities to implement. In fact, PSM audits by OSHA have consistently demonstrated that MI accounts for a large number of citations at most facilities. In this Chemical Processing Special Report, we take a look at how to effectively implement strategies to comply with PSM standards including:
- Common piping, hoses and valves hazards – what PHA (Process Handling Analysis) teams should look for to improve the quality of the hazard evaluation
- MI element of PSM – an in-depth look at the stated MI requirements, the perceived interpretation of these requirements and further considerations for identifying your plant’s compliance strategy
- MI implications – the impact MI has on plant’s written procedures, training, inspection & testing, and how equipment deficiencies and quality assurance programs are managed