The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) adopted several recommendations recently, including two for both the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
In the first recommendation, the Board requests that guidelines be issued jointly by OSHA and the EPA concerning the management of reactive chemical process hazards. The Board noted that existing federal safety standards do not provide sufficient guidance for reactive chemical process safety in such areas as the use of chemical screening techniques; reporting and investigating deviations from normal operations; and proper design for emergency cooling, pressure relief, and safety interlock systems.
In the second recommendation, the Board urges the EPA and OSHA to join the CSB, along with other chemical safety organizations and industry, in a CSB “hazard investigation” of reactive chemical process safety. For more information about the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, visit www.chemsafety.gov.
Based on a report from Safety Currents
