Process safety management
A regulatory framework requiring employers who handle highly hazardous chemicals to implement systematic controls to prevent or mitigate catastrophic releases. The US PSM standard and UK/Irish COMAH regime are related but differ in scope, triggers and requirements.
Also known as
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“COMAH”COMAHClose equivalentThe Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/483) implement the EU Seveso III Directive in GB. COMAH applies to establishments where specified dangerous substances are present at or above threshold quantities. Operators must prepare a major accident prevention policy (MAPP) and, for upper-tier sites, a safety report.
Irish HSA
“COMAH”Close equivalentThe EC (Control of Major Accident Hazards involving Dangerous Substances) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/209) implement Seveso III in Ireland. Competent authority is the HSA jointly with the Environmental Protection Agency.
US OSHA
“process safety management”PSMExact equivalent29 CFR 1910.119 requires facilities that process, handle, store or use threshold quantities of highly hazardous chemicals to implement a Process Safety Management programme with 14 elements including process hazard analysis, operating procedures, mechanical integrity and management of change.
Practitioner note: OSHA PSM (29 CFR 1910.119) and COMAH (GB/IE) are parallel major-hazard frameworks. PSM uses Process Hazard Analysis (PHA); COMAH uses the safety report with a HAZOP or equivalent study.
See also
Nearest equivalent in other frameworks
- →comah (GB/IE equivalent framework)