Anthony LaFaziaCEO, Atlantic Training · CEO at Atlantic Training | EdTech & Safety Compliance Leader

Navigating OSHA Regulations: A Comprehensive Guide to Process Safety Management (PSM)

25 Feb 2026 · 2 min

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1:37

In this introductory segment, the speaker highlights a recent catastrophic explosion at a Tennessee explosives plant that killed 16 people, using it as a springboard to discuss the broader, often under‑reported risk of chemical‑related disasters across many sectors—including natural gas, warehousing, utilities, trade, and construction. The core of the talk is OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) program, a systematic regulatory framework designed to prevent such incidents. The speaker explains that PSM applies when any of over 130 listed toxic, reactive, or flammable chemicals are present in quantities of 10,000 pounds or more, and defines a “process” as any activity involving a highly hazardous chemical—storage, manufacturing, handling, moving, or any combination thereof. The segment ends by prompting the audience to learn where the PSM process starts and what employer responsibilities entail.

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[FOREIGN] In recent news, 16 people were killed in a mass detonation at a Tennessee plant that makes military explosives. While this catastrophe made national news, there are numerous other chemical-related disasters we don't hear about. And you don't have to be an explosives factory to be at risk. Disasters can happen in any factory that uses hazardous chemicals, as well as other industries such as natural gas, farm product warehousing, electric and gas services, wholesale trade, and construction, to name a few. OSHA has an entire section of regulations devoted to Process Safety Management, PSM, a comprehensive systematic approach to preventing potential disasters from hazardous chemicals. This involves taking a close look at the processes that utilize these chemicals and completing a series of measures to reduce risks. PSM rules come into play when using any of over 130 toxic and reactive chemicals, as well as flammable gases and liquids, when used in quantities of 10,000 pounds or more. These regulations apply to all kinds of processes, which OSHA defines as any activity involving a highly hazardous chemical, including using storing, manufacturing, handling, or moving such chemicals at the site, or any combination of these activities. But let's not stop here. You no doubt have a burning desire to know where the PSM process begins and what's required of your employer to keep you safe.