management of Process Safety

The reaction of oxidizing agents with oxidisable organic or inorganic molecules may result in an explosion, fire, or the creation of other hazardous chemicals. Nitric acid reactions with organic compounds are examples of reactions (Graedel et al., 2012). As a result of nitration and oxidation processes, the reaction produces detonations and explosives. A simultaneous reaction of perchloric acid with organic bases produces perchloric salts, which are explosives in nature.

Oxidizing agents are widely used in industrial processes.

Concentrated nitric acid is used in the manufacture of nitrogenous fertilizers, sulphuric acids and the extraction of metal from metal ores. They are also used in baking to enhance the baking of flour hence, enabling the production of large and better loaves. They are also used in textile wet processing and vulcanization of rubber.

Primary hazards of common oxidizers

The oxidizing material may be corrosive or toxic. This depends on materials route of exposure and dose. When exposed to metals they can also result in destruction or corrosion. The decomposition of ammonium perchlorate at high temperature can result in the formation of toxic gases. They can also result in explosions if they are exposed to high temperature in their storage facilities (Graedel et al., 2012). The chemical cal can form shock sensitive mixture with finely compounded metal oxides or strong reducing agents like phosphorus and sulfur.

Occupational exposure limits (OELs) associated with t common oxidizers

Occupational exposure limit that regulates long term and short term exposure limit oxidizers restrict the total amount of intake or exposure time that one should be exposed in a while operating in toxic oxidizers v. Both long term and short time exposure limits are expressed regarding airborne concentration over a certain period. The recommended time for common oxidizer is 2 ppm.

PSM requirements that would be useful for preventing or minimizing the consequences of a significant oxidizer related incident.

Employers are required to provide written action plan of action that has employee participation in their working environment. Employers are also required to provide their employees with information about toxic oxidizers. The process safety information should also provide information about the hazards of highly hazardous oxidizers used or produced by the process. It should also provide information the equipment and technology used in the process.

Importance of process safety management to employees in a company and the community

The primary objective of process and safety management of chemicals that are extremely harmful is to prevent the release of dangerous chemicals that would expose surrounding environment and employees to serious hazards. The process helps employers to reduce or prevent chemical release that could result to catastrophic incidences in their workplace and the surrounding community (Pechacek et al., 2012). The program requires that employers develop the needed expertise, judgment, experience and proactive initiatives together with their work force to significantly maintain and implement a process safety management program that is effective as stated in the OSHA standards.

Process safety management ensures an optimistic outcome on the safeguard of workers in their workplace and offers an increased benefit to the production of a company since there will be increased productivity (Aziz et al., 2012). The process requires that all employees to have an understanding of safety hazards of the processes and chemical they are working with for the purpose of protecting themselves, their fellow workers and the surrounding environment.

References

Aziz, H. A., Shariff, A. M., & Rusli, R. (2014). Managing process safety information based on process safety management requirements. Process Safety Progress, 33(1), 41-48.

Graedel, T. E., Hawkins, D. T., & Claxton, L. D. (2012). Atmospheric chemical compounds: sources, occurrence and bioassay. Elsevier.

Pechacek, N., Osorio, M., Caudill, J., & Peterson, B. (2015). Evaluation of the toxicity data for peracetic acid in deriving occupational exposure limits: a minireview. Toxicology letters, 233(1), 45-57.