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OSHA PSM standard has been established with 14 elements that define the management principles to control process hazards and protect the workplace. One of the key factors to the success of Process Safety Management (PSM) implementation is that each element comes as a component in an integrated PSM program. Although various kind of integrated safety management systems have been introduced, direct integration system between PSM elements was not extensively studied due to vague concept on interrelation between PSM elements. This also hampers efforts in designing and developing integrated system for PSM. In this study, the interrelation of critical PSM elements was analyzed based on objectives and information functional of the elements stipulated in OSHA PSM regulations. From the conducted analysis, all the critical elements are interrelated at least with other seven PSM elements. Among the elements, Process Hazard Analysis and Mechanical Integrity were identified to have the highest interrelations comprising of 12 interrelated PSM elements. The developed PSM matrix has systematically showed the interrelation of critical PSM elements that useful for the development of Integrated PSM system. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 36: 74-80, 2017 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2009, the Department of Environment (DOE) implemented the Environmentally Hazardous Substances (EHS) Notification and Registration Scheme aimed at strengthening upstream chemicals management by first collecting data on chemicals that are either imported to or manufactured in Malaysia. However, we noticed that this voluntary scheme was developed merely to collect data on chemicals and there is no clear roadmap on how the scheme can promote the regulatory framework for upstream chemicals management. As responsible academics concerned about chemicals management, we took the initiative to analyse the EHS Notification and Registration Scheme, and identified the critical features in the regulatory framework that need to be enhanced. In this paper, we elaborate on the EHS definition, and propose the term Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals (EHC) to replace EHS in the context of chemicals management. The intrinsic properties of the EHC that are in line with the GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals) have been identified in this paper. We also propose a systematic approach to regulating chemicals which will also be capable of meeting the demands of chemical related conventions such as the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Minamata Conventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami damaged or destroyed many industrial facilities housing or processing hazardous substances, such as refineries, petrochemical facilities and other types of chemical industry. This showed that also generally well prepared countries are at risk of suffering natural hazard triggered technological (Natech) accidents. An analysis of data collected from open sources and through interviews with authorities was performed to understand the main reasons for the industrial damage and downtime as well as the extent of hazardous-materials releases and the associated impact on society. The analysis of the data set confirmed the findings from other studies with respect to main damage and failure modes, as well as hazardous-materials release paths. In addition, gaps in Natech risk management were identified. Based on the data analysis and interviews lessons learned in support of a more far-reaching Natech risk management are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the environmental regulation Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) as a form of compulsory information disclosure in the U.S. It notes that TRI was established by the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) in 1986. It mentions that TRI requires manufacturing firms to inform the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about releases or transfers of toxic chemicals. Moreover, it evaluates the effectiveness of TRI's two policies and how it contributed to the aim of reducing health risks.