What’s Process Safety Management in the Oil and Gas Sector?

The oil and gas industry is highly hazardous due to the nature of the products and processes such as storage, handling and production of harmful chemicals. Considering the risks involved, OSHA recommends that effective PSM (Process Safety Management (PSM)) be in place to avoid serious consequences. Besides the safety risks involved, accidents and incidents such as explosions and spills drastically impact the workplace.

The oil and gas sector is characterised by large-scale production and handling of hazardous oil and natural gas. These environments generate constant risks to people and the workplace and thus emphasise the need for strong Process safety management.

What is process safety management?

Process Safety Management is a regulatory standard that combines the essential aspects of skills related to engineering and management that centred on avoiding catastrophic accidents and near misses like explosions, toxic releases, fires and structural collapses.

The importance of PSM in the oil and gas industry can’t be overstated as the accidents in this sector are related to dangerous substances and loss of containment of energy.

PSM is majorly focused on preventing large-scale disasters through identifying and assessing hazards. After recognizing the potential hazards, the person responsible will work on executing appropriate safety measures and create an emergency response plan. The team will constantly monitor and improve safety work practices to maintain workplace standards.

How does process safety differ from occupational safety?

Both Process safety management (PSM) and Occupational safety aim at the well-being of workers and protecting the environment. However, they differ in their individual approach, focus and scope.

PSM primarily aims at avoiding catastrophic disasters that can lead to harm to people and the workplace. Occupational safety has its core intention of the protection of workers from potential workplace hazards like slips and falls, accidents and incidents related to machinery, manual handling and more.

Though both PSM and occupational safety together help create a completely safe work environment, still PSM focuses on process-related risks, while occupational safety deals with the daily workplace safety of the employees.

Importance of Process Safety Management

More than a regulatory standard, Process Safety Management is becoming a moral obligation in process industries such as oil and gas. One of the major reasons that highlight the significance of PSM is its core goal to prevent catastrophic accidents and major incidents, serious injuries and illnesses in the workplace, and avoid property damage and negative impacts on the environment.

Across the world, accidents and incidents are waking up the need for a robust PSM and it’s time for us to learn from the worst catastrophe in the chemical industry, the Chemical Plant leak in Visakhapatnam, India.

A smell hung in the air was realized by the villagers in the coastal city. Soon the gas leakage covered a 3 KM radius and impacted the whole village and their livelihood.

In this major accident, 12 lives were lost and nearly 1000 injuries were reported.

This and similar incidents reported across the globe accentuate integrating the best practices in Process Safety Management.

Steps to Implement Process Safety Management

A multidimensional approach is required to implement an effective Process Safety Management. The key steps involved are:

• Create a PSM policy for process safety information
• Perform Process hazard analysis
• Execute safety practices
• Establish Operating Procedures
• Ensure awareness through employee training
• Ensure compliance with regular inspections and audits.

To learn more about establishing the best process safety management practices, we highly recommend investing in our NEBOSH HSE Process Certificate in Process Safety Management (PSM) course.

This course is best for anyone already working in or passionate about a career in process industries such as oil and gas, plastics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Especially, newly appointed managers, team leaders, junior managers or safety representatives in the process industries will find this course beneficial.

Equip the expertise for effective Process Safety Management with Green World Group

Make sure your employees are provided with the essential skills to handle dangerous substances and promptly respond during emergencies with NEBOSH Process safety management training. Green World Group is the proud and NEBOSH-approved course provider and the best institute to pursue NEBOSH PSM HSE Certification.

Enrol in NEBOSH PSM HSE training today and ensure competency in the Process Safety principles and systems.