Why Do PSM Operating Procedures Matter?
Operators are the first-line hands when it comes to running a plant. The ever-dynamic process that occurs at upstream platforms, midstream terminals, downstream refineries, and chemical plants would be difficult for anyone to keep straight without written guidance, instruction, and training.
This is why OSHA 1910.119(f) requires PSM-covered facilities to have up-to-date and accurate operating procedures. Per the PSM operating procedures mandate, the “employer shall develop and implement written operating procedures that provide clear instructions for safely conducting activities involved in each covered process consistent with the process safety information.”
What Criteria Do We Use to Write PSM Operating Procedures?
Well-written process safety management operating procedures can be hard to come by, yet are invaluable. The two criteria that make operating procedures so hard to write are that (1) they have to be concise enough to not over-burden an experienced operator, but (2) detailed enough for a new operator to comprehend and perform. A well-written operating procedure not only acts as the means to keep your process running safely but also serves as a training tool for new operators.