True or False: By reducing all listed hazardous chemicals to levels below OSHA thresholds, facilities can avoid triggering OSHA coverage, and in so doing, eliminate the impact of process safety on the facility

True or False: By reducing all listed hazardous chemicals to levels below OSHA thresholds, facilities can avoid triggering OSHA coverage, and in so doing, eliminate the impact of process safety on the facility

• A. True
• B. Not Sure
• C. Both
• D. False

Answer: (D)

Process safety management is tied to having a process with a listed highly hazardous chemical above a certain quantity. In theory, keeping those chemicals below the thresholds could remove OSHA PSM coverage. But that doesn’t erase process safety concerns or obligations. Major hazards can still exist or arise from other chemicals, design or equipment issues, and so on, and many organizations maintain robust safety practices regardless of PSM status. Additionally, other regulations or internal programs may require hazard analysis, procedures, and controls even if PSM coverage isn’t triggered. So, reducing below thresholds does not eliminate the impact of process safety.

Process safety management is tied to having a process with a listed highly hazardous chemical above a certain quantity. In theory, keeping those chemicals below the thresholds could remove OSHA PSM coverage. But that doesn’t erase process safety concerns or obligations. Major hazards can still exist or arise from other chemicals, design or equipment issues, and so on, and many organizations maintain robust safety practices regardless of PSM status. Additionally, other regulations or internal programs may require hazard analysis, procedures, and controls even if PSM coverage isn’t triggered. So, reducing below thresholds does not eliminate the impact of process safety.