DOE Chemical Process Hazard Analysis

The Office of Worker Health and Safety (EH-5) under the Assistant Secretary for the Environment, Safety and Health of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has published two handbooks for use by DOE contractors managing facilities and processes covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Rule for Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (29 CFR 1910.119), herein referred to as the PSM Rule. The PSM Rule contains an integrated set of chemical process safety management elements designed to prevent chemical releases that can lead to catastrophic fires, explosions, or toxic exposures. The purpose of the two handbooks, “Process Safety Management for Highly Hazardous Chemicals” and “Chemical Process Hazards Analysis,” is to facilitate implementation of the provisions of the PSM Rule within the DOE.