The Process Safety Management Rule

DOE-HDBK-1101-96

The Process Safety Management Rule

SUBPART NUMBER: H (Hazardous Materials)

Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals

Purpose. This section contains requirements for preventing or minimizing the consequences of

catastrophic releases of toxic, reactive, flammable, or explosive chemicals. These releases may

result in toxic, fire or explosion hazards.

(a) Application.

(1) This section applies to the following:

(i)

A process which involves a chemical at or above the specified threshold quantities

listed in Appendix A to this section;

(ii)

A process which involves a flammable liquid or gas (as defined in 1910.1200(c) of

this part) on site in one location, in a quantity of 10,000 pounds (4535.9 kg) or more

except for:

(A) Hydrocarbon fuels used solely for workplace consumption as a fuel (e.g.,

propane used for comfort heating, gasoline for vehicle refueling), if such fuels

are not a part of a process containing another highly hazardous chemical covered

by this standard;

(B) Flammable liquids stored in atmospheric tanks or transferred which are kept

below their normal boiling point without benefit of chilling or refrigeration.

(2) This section does not apply to:

(i)

Retail facilities;

(ii)

Oil or gas well drilling or servicing operations; or,

(iii) Normally unoccupied remote facilities.

(b) Definitions.

Atmospheric tank means a storage tank which has been designed to operate at pressures from

atmospheric through 0.5 p.s.i.g. (pounds per square inch gauge, 3.45 Kpa).

Boiling point means the boiling point of a liquid at a pressure of 14.7 pounds per square inch

absolute (p.s.i.a.) (760 mm.). For the purposes of this section, where an accurate boiling point is

unavailable for the material in question, or for mixtures which do not have a constantboiling point,

the 10 percent point of a distillation performed inaccordance with the Standard Method of Test for

Distillation of Petroleum Products, ASTM D-86-62, may be used as the boiling point of the liquid.

Catastrophic release means a major uncontrolled emission, fire, or explosion, involving one or more

highly hazardous chemicals, that presents serious danger to employees in the workplace.

Facility means the buildings, containers or equipment which contain a process.

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