Bath PSM considers Process Safety a top priority in all the work we do. This is especially true for those processes covered by OSHA 1910.119 “Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals”. The topic of Process Safety Management primarily involves the understanding of OSHA 1910.119 and its 14 basic elements.
Bath PSM has working knowledge and experience in how the 14 basic elements are interlinked and interdependent and how they are necessary to make up the entire OSHA 1910.119 Process Safety Management structure.
The overall process safety of a production unit is analyzed via a study called a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA). This study identifies possible scenarios where the process equipment is no longer operating within its normal control parameters. Each scenario is evaluated and the possible and probable cause and effect for each is identified using the production unit’s Process Safety Information. This study systematically reviews the effects and determines whether the process is designed to mitigate or prevent the situation from occurring.
A Management of Change (MOC) review evaluates a proposed change to a production unit to determine whether the change will impact process safety. If process safety could be negatively impacted, a recommendation is made by the review team to address the safety concern.
Bath PSM provides consultation services to its clients in the following PSM elements:
- Facilitation of a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) study
- Facilitation of a Management of Change (MOC) review
- Integration and management of Process Safety Information (PSI)
Process Safety Relief Valve Sizing and Selection
Bath PSM has specific experience in the sizing, selection, and specification of process safety relief valves (PSV’s) and typically makes use of the practices recommended in API RP 520 (Part 1 Sizing And Selection). Bath PSM has the resources to include back pressure calculations under relief conditions for the safe installation of PSV’s into a closed flare or relief point header system. The process conditions are thoroughly considered to verify metallurgy and elastomeric compatibility and the use of rupture disks to accommodate severe service applications.
Bath PSM can also provide a third party peer review of PSV sizing, specifications and equipment selection prior to purchase. This step can provide additional documentation that the worst case scenario for PSV sizing was used for the final equipment specification sheet.
Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS)
The International Society of Automation (ISA) published the standard titled “Application of Safety Instrumented Systems For The Process Industries” ANSI/ISA 84.00.01 (IEC 61511) with the goal of preventing the catastrophic release of toxic, flammable, and explosive chemicals. This SIS standard has become the Recognized And Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices (RAGAGEP) for the industry and has been adopted by most global regulatory authorities.
Bath PSM has both the experience and a methodology utilizing ANSI/ISA 84.00.01 (IEC 61511) to aid in the risk assessment and design of instrumentation systems to allow the safe and orderly control and shutdown of a process unit or facility.
Safety Integrity Level (SIL)
The Safety Integrity Level (SIL) is a statistical representation of the integrity of the Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) when a process demand occurs. Bath PSM has assisted various clients in the review of their installed SIS to provide a safety integrity level or risk reduction factor rating.