The Process Safety Management (PSM) of Highly Hazardous Chemicals (HHC's) standard, 29 CFR 1910.119 by OSHA is intended to prevent or minimize the consequences of a catastrophic release of toxic, reactive, flammable or explosive HHC's from a process. The rule intends to accomplish its goal by requiring a comprehensive management program integrating technologies, procedures, and management practices.

The standard applies to a process which contains a threshold quantity or greater amount of a toxic or reactive HHC as specified. PSM is the application of management systems to identify, understand and control process hazards, thus preventing process related injuries and incidents. It is the proactive and systematic identification, evaluation and mitigation or prevention of chemical releases that could occur as a result of failures in processes, procedures and equipment.

Modern hydrocarbon processing facilities have become increasingly more complex. Likewise, the risks in managing greater capacity refineries and petrochemical complexes have increased. The development of new techniques and technologies designed to improve operational safety has evolved to meet these challenges. It is in these circumstances that Process Safety Management (PSM) becomes pivotal as it focuses on Technology, Facilities and Personnel. The objective of the PSM is to cover what PSM stands for and who is covered by the standard. List out all the elements of PSM standard to integrate Technology, Operating procedures and Standard Management Protocols.

To take forward the process safety journey in a faster pace the management in MR had decided to seek support from some external experts. A Process Safety Management Vision/ Mission workshop was conducted on 1st June 2019. Mr. Subbarao, CEO M/s CHOLA MS Risk Services Chennai and his senior colleagues had anchored our vision workshop in which almost 40 senior most executives in Mumbai Refinery brainstormed for a full day. We had co-created a PSM vision 2021 for Mumbai refinery. In the workshop we had firmed up our mission and also identified 4 core values for a better PSM culture in our refinery.