07 Nov KARA files comments to OSHA on proposed changes to PSM standard
Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) filed comments to the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on the agency’s proposed changes to Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations. The comment period closes on Nov. 14, 2022.
PSM is a comprehensive set of performance-based standards that were established by OSHA in response to accidents and chemical releases at very large chemical manufacturing and processing facilities. The standard requires employers to implement safety programs that identify, evaluate, and control highly hazardous chemicals. OSHA is engaging stakeholders to provide comments on a list of proposed modernization topics to PSM, including possible changes to the scope of the long-standing retail facilities exemption, an expansion of the list of covered chemicals (to potentially add ammonium nitrate), and other proposals.
KARA’s nearly 10-page comment pointed to the agribusiness retail industry’s strong safety record operating under OSHA’s current regulations and explained those regulations have proven sufficient in meeting the agency’s process safety goals.
KARA encouraged OSHA to retain the current PSM standard, and to not adopt any new proposal that would unnecessarily increase the regulatory burden on the agricultural retail industry without increasing occupational safety. Should OSHA deem it necessary to further regulate the NH3 or FGAN retail industry, KARA recommended a review of OSHA standard 1910.111 or other standards more specific to the fertilizer chemical industry.