Process Safety Alliance - Alliance Annual Report - March 13, 2009
ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and the Process Safety Alliance
March 13, 2009
- Alliance Background
Date Signed
January 22, 2008
Evaluation Period
January 22, 2008 - January 21, 2009
OverviewThrough the OSHA and Process Safety Alliance, OSHA, the American Chemical Society (ACS), American Chemistry Council (ACC), API, Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS, a technical alliance of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers), Chlorine Institute (CI), National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA), Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are focusing on providing the organizations’ members and the general public, including small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources in the field of process safety including the management of chemical reactivity hazards. In particular, the Alliance focuses on the organizations working together to help prevent catastrophic explosions, fires, and the toxic releases, thereby protecting the employees, the manufacturing facilities, the environment and the public.
Implementation Team Members
OSHA:
John E. Bugno - Office of Safety Systems, Directorate of Standards and Guidance (DSG)
Lisa Long- Office of General Industry Enforcement, Directorate of Enforcement Programs
Kathy Landkrohn- Office of Chemical Hazards-Metals (OCH-M), DSG
Tony Mapes*- Office of Outreach Services (OOSA), Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs (DCSP)
Lisa Ramber- OOSA, DCSP
Elizabeth (Bea) Way- OOSA, DCSP
Process Safety Alliance: Jim Belke - EPA
Scott Berge - CCPS
Paul Butler - CCPS
Ron Chittim - API
David Dunlap - CI
Kathy Franklin - EPA
Tom Gibson - ACC
Marta Gmurczyk - ACS
Karen Haase - API
Neal Langerman - Advanced Chemical Safety
Sarah Mechum - SOCMA
Laurie Miller - ACC
Tim Overton - The Dow Chemical Company
Russ Phifer - ACS
Morgan Seuberling - SOCMA
Tomaysa Sterling - ACC
Lara Swett - NPRA
Mike Walls - ACC*Tony Mapes serves as the Alliance Coordinator since January 22, 2008.
- Implementation Team Meetings
- February 5, 2008 Kick-off Implementation Team Meeting
- March 6, 2008 Implementation Team Meeting
- May 8, 2008 Implementation Team Meeting
- August 11, 2008 Implementation Team Meeting
- November 5, 2008 Implementation Team Meeting
- Results
- Events and Products
- Training and Education Goals
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise to develop training and education programs regarding process safety, including the management of chemical reactivity hazards, and to provide expertise in communicating such information to employers and employees in the industry.
- Product
Chemical Reactivity Hazards: Laboratory and Pilot Scale Recognition and Control Workshop
Through the Alliance, OSHA and Process Safety Alliance members developed the workshop to provide participants with the knowledge and skill to screen processes for potential hazards, recognize when reactive hazards are present, and implement appropriate controls to reduce the risk of an incident associated with chemical reactivity hazards in laboratories and pilot plants. The workshop draws heavily on the Managing Chemical Reactivity Hazards: A Workshop for Non-Chemists workshop, which was developed by CCPS for the OSHA and Chemical Reactivity Hazards Management Alliance.
- Neal Langerman, Ph.D., Advanced Chemical Safety, presented the workshop during the reporting period on the following occasions:
- April 30, 2008, Boston, Massachusetts, 25 attendees
- May 1, 2008, Boston, Massachusetts, 20 attendees
- May 13, 2008, Seattle, Washington, 45 attendees
- July 2, 2008, Burlington, Vermont, 10 attendees
- August 16, 2008, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 25 attendees
- Deliver or arrange for the delivery of process safety courses.
Deliver or arrange for the delivery of process safety courses. During the reporting period, the OSHA and Process Safety Alliance Implementation Team have not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
Outreach and Communication Goals
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace process safety hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and the Alliance Partners' Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry, local emergency planning authorities, first responders, and the general public.
Products
Process Safety and OSHA Alliance Web page
CCPS is continuing to update the Process Safety and OSHA Alliance Web page that is posted on the CCPS Web site. The Web page has links to resources that are under development as products of the OSHA and Process Safety Alliance.
OSHA and Process Safety Alliance Web page
OSHA is continuing to update the OSHA and Process Safety Alliance Web page that is posted on the OSHA Web site. The page includes the OSHA and Process Safety Alliance agreement, news releases, and information on activities and events.
OSHA Safety and Health Topic Pages
Representatives from Dow, CCPS, CI, EPA, and the American Chemical Society serve on the editorial boards of the following OSHA Safety and Health Topics pages, providing OSHA with their expertise and technical review:
- Chemical Reactivity Hazards
- Scott Berger, CCPS, New York, NY
- Art Dungan, CI, Arlington, VA
- Kathy Franklin, Chemical Engineer, EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Process Safety; Washington, DC
- Neal Langerman, PhD, American Chemical Society, Advanced Chemical Safety, Inc., San Diego, CA
- Kenan Stevick, Process Safety Technology Center, Dow; Midland, MI
- Process Safety Management
- Scott Berger, CCPS, Process Safety; New York, NY
- George King, Process Safety Technology Center, Freeport, TX
Print and Electronic Media
Articles about the OSHA and Process Safety Alliance and OSHA’s compliance assistance resources have appeared in SOCMA’s ChemStewards, and NPRA’s The Green Room Report enewsletter. For more information on the articles, please see the Alliance Program Reach table.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or the Alliance Partners’ conferences and regional or local meeting, such as those attended by small businesses.
CCPS Technical Steering Committee Web Conference, June 24, 2008, New York City, New York
On June 24, 2008, Lisa Long, Chemical Engineer, Office of General Industry Enforcement, Directorate of Enforcement Programs, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation entitled, “OSHA Update: Proposed National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Petroleum Refining, Chemical Industry, and Combustible Dust” to 30 attendees during the Web conference.
American Institute of Chemical Engineers Fourth Global Congress on Process Safety, April 7-9, 2008, New Orleans, Louisiana
On April 7, 2008, Mark R. Briggs, Area Director, Region VI, Houston South, Texas Area Office, USDOL-OSHA, gave the keynote presentation to 400 attendees at the conference.
- Share information among OSHA, EPA, and industry process safety professionals regarding the best practices or effective approaches developed by the Alliance Partners, and publicize results through outreach by Alliance Partners and through OSHA- or Alliance Partners-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and Web sites.
Products
“Best Practice Guide: Preventing Process Incidents Caused by Vehicular Impact”
The OSHA and Process Safety Alliance Implementation Team began developing “Best Practice Guide: Preventing Process Incidents Caused by Vehicular Impact,” the best practice guide provides information on protecting chemical processing equipment from vehicular impact.
“Best Practice Guide: Remote Isolation of Process Equipment”
The OSHA and Process Safety Alliance Implementation Team began developing “Best Practice Guide: Remote Isolation of Process Equipment,” the guide provides information on remotely isolating process equipment that contains hazardous chemicals when there has been a loss of containment.
Events
SOCMA “Combustible Dust 2” Webinar, November 20, 2008
On November 20, 2008, Guy R. Colonna, P.E., Assistant Vice President, Fire Protection Applications and Chemical Engineering, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a signatory of the OSHA and Safe Tank Alliance, gave a presentation on NFPA standards that deal with dust collection methods, explosion issues, and controlling dust build-up, and Dr. Vahid Ebadat, Chilworth Laboratories, gave a presentation on combustible dust assessment, conditions in which dust explosions can occur and ventilation methods to prevent dust build-up to 51 attendees during the Webinar
SOCMA “Combustible Dust” Webinar, July 31, 2008
On July 31, 2008, Harry White, Personal Safety Technology Leader, The Dow Chemical Company, gave a presentation on combustible dust best practices from an industry perspective, and Sanji Kanth, Safety Engineer, Office of General Industry Enforcement, Directorate of Enforcement Programs, USDOL-OSHA, gave a presentation on OSHA regulatory and enforcement activies to 91 attendees during the Webinar.
- Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on the identification and management of chemical reactivity hazards that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
During the reporting period, the OSHA and Process Safety Alliance Implementation Team have not started work on programs or projects to address this goal.
National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health Goal
- Convene or participate in forums, roundtable discussions, or stakeholder meetings on issues including process safety to help forge innovative solutions in communities and the workplace or to provide input on process safety issues.
2008 Drug-Free Work Week, October 20-26, 2008
SOCMA joined with a number of other Alliance Program participants to support 2008 Drug-Free Work Week. Drug-Free Work Week is sponsored annually by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace Program, the week focuses on educating employers, employees, and the public about the importance of being drug-free as an essential component of a safe and healthful workplace.
2008 North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week, May 4-10, 2008, Washington, DC
SOCMA and CCPS joined with more than 50 other Alliance Program participants to support 2008 NAOSH Week. NAOSH Week, sponsored by the American Society of Safety Engineers, an Alliance Program participant, focuses on increasing the understanding of the positive benefits of investing in occupational safety, health and environmental programs among employers, employees and the public; raising awareness of the role and contribution of safety, health and environmental professionals; and reducing workplace injuries and illness by encouraging new safety and health activities at all companies and organizations.
- Executive Summary Through the Alliance Program, OSHA and the Process Safety Alliance organizations are working together to help prevent catastrophic explosions, fires, and toxic releases. In addition, the Alliance is focusing on developing training resources for the field of process safety to include chemical reactivity hazards. The positive relationship that the Process Safety Alliance members have developed over the last year has led to the development of the many programs and projects that the team is currently working on or has produced.
For example, Process Safety Alliance members conducted the Chemical Reactivity Hazards: Laboratory and Pilot Scale Recognition and Control workshop, which provides participants with the knowledge and skill to screen processes for potential hazards, recognize when reactive hazards are present, and control measures that they could implement to reduce the risk of an incident associated with chemical reactivity hazards in laboratories and pilot plants.
As part of their outreach efforts, SOCMA worked with OSHA to conduct two Webinars on combustible dust. In addition, Process Safety Alliance representatives are sharing their expertise with OSHA through participation on the editorial boards for the following Safety and Health Topics pages:- Chemical Reactivity Hazards
- Process Safety Management
- Alliance Program Reach
Type of Activity (Conference, Training, Print and
Electronic Distribution, etc.)Number of Individuals
Reached or TrainedOSHA and Process Safety Alliance Web page on the OSHA Web site
3,678
Process Safety and OSHA Alliance Web page on the CCPS Web site
Data not available
OSHA Chemical Reactivity Hazards Safety and Health Topics Page
19,580
OSHA Combustible Dust Safety and Health Topics Page
29,334
OSHA Process Safety Management Safety and Health Topics Page
45,583
OSHA Combustible Dust in Industry: Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Fire and Explosions Safety and Health Information Bulletin
72,143
January 22, 2008 - “SOCMA Joins with OSHA, Other Associations to Form Process Safety Alliance,” SOCMA Press Release
Data not available
January 23, 2008 - “OSHA Announces New Alliance with Process Safety Group,” OSHA News Release
Data not available
January 23, 2008 - “OSHA Announces New Alliance with Process Safety Group,” Earthtimes.org
Data not available
January 23, 2008 - “New OSHA Alliance Focuses on Chemical Process Safety,” Industry News
Data not available
January 23, 2008 - “OSHA Announces New Alliance with Process Safety Group,” RedOrbit
Data not available
January 23, 2008 - “OSHA Announces New Alliance with Process Safety Group,” MarketWatch
Data not available
January 24, 2008 - “Eight Entities Partner with OSHA to Promote Process Safety,” Occupational Health and Safety Magazine
Data not available
January 24, 2008 - “OSHA Forms Alliance with Process Safety Group,” Petrochemical News
Data not available
January 29, 2008 - “OSHA Announces New Alliance with Process Safety Group,” Safetec Chemical Compliance
Data not available
January 31, 2008 - “OSHA Forms Process Safety Alliance,” BNA Occupational Safety and Health Reporter
Data not available
February 10, 2008 - “OSHA Announces Alliance with Process Safety Group,” Arizona Emergency Response Commission
Data not available
February 12, 2008 - “OSHA Announces Alliance with Process Safety Group,” ThomasNet Industrial Newsroom
Data not available
March 7, 2008 - “OSHA Announces New Combustible Dust Safety and Health Topics Web Page,” NPRA’s The Green Room Report enewsletter
Data not available
April 1, 2008 - “Refinery Blast Reinforces Calls for Process Safety,” Industry Week
Data not available
April 1, 2008 - “OSHA Challenge Webinar,” SOCMA’s ChemStewards enewsletter
Data not available
April 30, 2008 - “OSHA Provides New Fact Sheet to Improve Safety,” SOCMA’s ChemStewards enewsletter
Data not available
May 7, 2008 - “Find Out How OSHA’s $afety Pays Program Can Work for You,” SOCMA’s ChemStewards enewsletter
Data not available
June 10, 2008 - “SOCMA Members Encouraged to Participate in Drug-Free Work Week,” SOCMA’s ChemStewards enewsletter
Data not available
July 8, 2008 - “Forklift Safety Message from the OSHA Alliance,” SOCMA’s ChemStewards enewsletter
Data not available
TOTAL
170,318
- Upcoming Milestones
In the upcoming year, the OSHA and Process Safety Alliance Implementation Team will continue to work together to develop training resources in the field of process safety to include the management of chemical reactivity hazards and to help prevent catastrophic explosions, fires, and toxic releases. For example, through the Alliance, OSHA and Process Safety will finalize the following best practice guides:
- Preventing Process Incidents Caused by Vehicular Impact
- Remote Isolation of Process Equipment
Finally, OSHA personnel will staff an OSHA and Process Safety Alliance exhibit booth at the joint ACC and SOCMA GlobalChem Conference, April 6-8, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland to distribute OSHA compliance assistance materials and to answer attendees’ questions. In addition, OSHA staff will be making a presentation at the conference.
Report prepared by: Tony Mapes, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, March 13, 2009