For the first time in 30 years, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a major revision to its Process Safety Management (PSM) guidance. These regulations apply to all businesses or facilities that store or handle certain chemicals and may impact manufacturers, agricultural businesses, janitorial services, food processors, warehouses, refineries, and many others.
The revision, which is in the form of questions and answers derived from previous letter rulings, redefines which chemicals and equivalents are subject to monitoring and the quantity of a hazardous substance, typically 10,000 pounds, that may require compliance. It also looks at methods of storage, barriers between storage containers, and safe-handling guidelines. The revised regulations went into effect on January 26, 2024.