(Effective December 27, 2024)

PDFWAC 296-67-319

Process safety information.

(1) The employer must develop and maintain a compilation of written process safety information (PSI) before performing any:
(a) PHA;
(b) HCA;
(c) SPA; or
(d) DMR.
(2) The compilation of written PSI must be sufficient to enable the employer and employee involved in operating or maintaining a process to identify and understand the hazards posed by the process.
(3) The PSI must include accurate, verified, and complete information pertaining to the following:
(a) The hazards of highly hazardous chemicals and materials used in or produced by the process;
(b) The technology of the process;
(c) Process equipment used in the process; and
(d) Results of previous DMRs.
(4) Information pertaining to the highly hazardous chemicals or materials used in, present in, or produced by the process, must include at least the following:
(a) Toxicity information, including acute and chronic health hazards;
(b) Permissible exposure limits pursuant to WAC 296-841-20025;
(c) Physical data;
(d) Damage mechanism data;
(e) Thermal and chemical stability data;
(f) Reactivity data; and
(g) Hazardous effects of incompatible mixtures that could foreseeably occur.
Note:
Safety data sheets meeting the requirements of WAC 296-901-14014 may be used to comply with this requirement to the extent they contain the information required by this section.
(5) Information pertaining to the technology of the process must include at least the following:
(a) A block flow diagram or simplified process flow diagram;
(b) Process chemistry;
(c) Maximum intended inventory;
(d) Safe upper and lower limits of process variables, such as temperatures, pressures, flows, levels, and compositions; and
(e) The consequences of deviations, including chemical mixing and reactions that may affect the safety and health of employees.
(6) Information pertaining to the equipment in the process must include at least the following:
(a) Materials of construction;
(b) Piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs);
(c) Electrical classification;
(d) Relief system design and design basis;
(e) Ventilation system design;
(f) Design codes and standards employed, including design conditions and operating limits;
(g) Material and energy balances for processes built after September 1, 1992;
(h) Safety systems, such as interlocks and detection and suppression systems;
(i) Electrical supply and distribution systems; and
(j) Results of prior DMRs.
(7) The employer must document that process equipment complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices (RAGAGEP), where RAGAGEP has been established for that process equipment, or with more protective internal practices that ensure safe operation.
(8) If the employer installs new process equipment for which no RAGAGEP exists, the employer must determine and document that the equipment is designed, constructed, installed, maintained, inspected, tested and operated in a safe manner.
(9) If existing process equipment was designed and constructed in accordance with codes, standards or practices that are no longer in general use, the employer must determine and document that the process equipment is designed, constructed, installed, maintained, inspected, tested and operated in a safe manner for its intended purpose.
(10) The PSI must be made available to all employees, and relevant PSI must be made available to employees of contractors. Information pertaining to the hazards of the process must be effectively communicated to all affected employees.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 24-02-037, § 296-67-319, filed 12/27/23, effective 12/27/24.]