There is no cutting corners when it comes to safety, and this is for the benefit of everyone. For businesses in the food, pharma, and parcels industries, there are many considerations and choices that need to be made on a day-to-day basis in all aspects of the business. But safety should not be a consideration on the table. It should be an established set of processes that are incorporated into the everyday course of business and strictly followed by everyone at all times.
And just like each business is not the same as others, and each process is unique, safety should be tailored to particular needs. For this reason, it is worth considering bringing in the experts, and taking advantage of process safety management consultants.
Why Do We Need Process Safety Management?
To understand the importance of bringing process safety management consultants on board means understanding what exactly process safety management (also known as PSM for short) is and how it plays a role in business operations. So, what exactly is process safety management, and why do we need process safety management consulting?
The purpose of process safety management is to identify and mitigate risks and hazards that could harm workers, disrupt workflow, or even cause liability problems for the business as a whole. And while there are common hazards that every business should be aware of, there are also risks that pertain to individual and proprietary processes. Process safety consultants assist you in identifying these risks.
But identifying hazards is only one aspect of process safety management consulting. The other aspect, which is as important, is providing solutions to mitigate and manage these scenarios. After all, identifying risks shouldn’t be a hindrance on a business workflow, but should lead to the alleviation of problems and keep operations moving forward safely.
A common misconception pertaining to process safety management consulting is that once risks are identified and safety procedures are established, the work is done. This is not the case, and in reality, a business and a process safety management consulting team will form an ongoing partnership. From updated technologies to improving processes down the road, a business will continue to rely on process safety consultants as they continue to develop and grow. Regardless of the style of business, staying up to date with risk mitigation and safety is key.
Who Needs PSM?
Strictly speaking, only facilities having production processes that fall under the OSHA PSM regulation (29 CFR 1910.119) are required to establish a formal PSM program. Since risks and hazards present themselves in all shapes and sizes, any facility can benefit from incorporating a process safety management philosophy. These protocols are not just effective for improving workplace safety, but for company liability companies as well. For example, a food manufacturer has various risks that are present in the day-to-day operations that could put workers at danger or disrupt the operation if not mitigated. There are considerations that go beyond the production floor that also need to be considered. Contractor safety, asset reliability management and employee participation in safety are all components of any good workplace safety program that can benefit from implementing aspects by which a formal PSM program would address them. Products need to be produced safely, and process safety management consulting ensures this safety.
What Is Meant by Process Safety?
Process safety management doesn’t mean disrupting the workflow and reinventing the wheel for plant operations, maintenance, and EHS managers. On the contrary. It means understanding how a particular production process works, identifying the risks or hazards, and developing solutions that make sense for operations, maintenance, and EHS.
An effective process safety management consulting team is a partner that helps an organization to be able to manage safety in the way that suits them best. Additionally, these experts have seen many types of risks and hazards, and have developed countless ways to avert them and maintain a safe and productive work environment. The cross-pollination effect of ideas from other seemingly dissimilar industries is a powerful tool for improving a facility’s safety and operation.
Even though every operation is unique, process safety management consultants know how to look at workflows and understand what sorts of scenarios present risks. Their experience in identifying risks means that a business doesn’t have to worry about missing something, and in any business, not having to worry about the safety of workers or operations is peace of mind.
What is the Purpose of OSHA PSM Standard?
Every production facility is unique. However, there are best practices that are true of every facility, and uniform risks that need to be considered. For these reasons, OSHA has developed a PSM standard that, while it has requirements, allows the individual facility some flexibility to manage process safety in its own way. The purpose is to make sure that businesses stay safe.
And while staying compliant with OSHA is important and goes a long way in keeping operational workflow safe, it is the unique aspects of the business that a true process safety management consulting partner will identify and mitigate. While OSHA PSM is the regulation that any facility having highly hazardous chemical must follow, there are many avenues for risk to be identified and mitigated.
Contact the Experts at EAD Today
Being compliant with safety should put the decision makers at ease, keep workers safe, and enable the ongoing operational workflow of a business. By partnering with a process safety management consulting team, business leaders can know their business is in good hands, and focus on the running of the business, while the experts focus on mitigating the risk.