A new fact sheet published by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board describes the agency’s recommendations regarding preventive maintenance. According to the agency, inadequate mechanical integrity and preventive maintenance programs and aging infrastructure and equipment are recurring root causes of chemical incidents in the U.S. Preventive maintenance is one of CSB’s “drivers of critical chemical safety change,” which are key initiatives identified by the agency. Other drivers identified by CSB include modernizing U.S. process safety management regulations, emergency planning and response, safe hot work practices, and combustible dust safety. CSB’s recommendations for preventive maintenance seek to address gaps in facility, corporate, regulatory, and industry programs and standards to prevent the failure of equipment involved in highly hazardous processes. According to the agency, facilities must promptly identify and mitigate damaged mechanisms. Equipment must not be operated beyond its life cycle expectancy, and facilities should not delay necessary equipment upgrades and replacements. The fact sheet is available as a . More information about CSB’s drivers of critical chemical safety change can be found on the agency’s .