Amend the Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard, 29 CFR 1910.119, to achieve more comprehensive control of reactive hazards that could have catastrophic consequences.
- Broaden the application to cover reactive hazards resulting from process-specific conditions and combinations of chemicals. Additionally, broaden coverage of hazards from self-reactive chemicals. In expanding PSM coverage, use objective criteria. Consider criteria such as the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), a reactive hazard classification system (e.g., based on heat of reaction or hazardous gas evolution), incident history, or catastrophic potential.
- In the compilation of process safety information, require that multiple sources of information be sufficiently consulted to understand and control potential reactive hazards. Useful sources include but are not limited to:
- Literature surveys (e.g., Bretherick’s Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards, Sax’s Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials, CAS SciFinder).
- Information developed from computerized tools (e.g., ASTM’s CHETAH, CCPS’s Chemical Reactivity Worksheet).
- Chemical property data compiled in PubChem and the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals) dossiers maintained by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
- Chemical reactivity test data produced by employers or obtained from other sources following established standards such as:
- ASTM E537-20, Standard Test Method for Chemicals by Differential Scanning Calorimetry;
- ASTM E1981-22, Standard Guide for Assessing Thermal Stability of Materials by Methods of Accelerating Rate Calorimetry;
- ASTM E2550-21, Standard Test Method for Thermal Stability by Thermogravity; and
- ASTM E1231-19, Standard Practice for Calculation of Hazard Potential Figures of Merit for Thermally Unstable Materials.
- Relevant incident data from the plant, the corporation, industry, and government.
- Augment the process hazard analysis (PHA) element to explicitly require an evaluation of reactive hazards. In revising this element, evaluate the need to consider relevant factors, such as:
- Rate and quantity of heat or gas generated.
- Maximum operating temperature to avoid a runaway reaction from decomposition.
- Time to Maximum Rate under Adiabatic Conditions (TMRad).
- Thermal stability of reactants, reaction mixtures, byproducts, waste streams, and products.
- Effect of variables such as charging rates, catalyst addition, and possible contaminants.
- Understanding the consequences of runaway reactions or hazardous gas evolution.
(Superseded 2001-01-H-XX-R1)