July 27, 2007—The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently took two actions designed to help reduce or eliminate workplace hazards associated with the use of highly hazardous chemicals.
- OSHA issued its explanation of “on site in one location” in the “Application” section of the Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals standard. OSHA interprets this to mean that the standard applies when a threshold quantity of a highly hazardous chemical (HHC) exists within an area under the control of an employer or group of affiliated employers. For a more detailed explanation, see the June 7 Federal Register.
- OSHA also published a new directive on implementing a National Emphasis Program to help reduce or eliminate workplace hazards associated with the release of highly hazardous chemicals at petroleum refineries. The Instruction provides guidance to OSHA national, regional, and area offices, and to those state programs that choose to implement a similar program. OSHA’s Process Safety Management topic page offers resources for improving workplace safety and health in the refining and chemical industries.
