Since before the establishment of OSHA in 1970, industrial hygienists and OEHS professionals have been striving to protect workers through policies, regulations, research, and intervention. But despite our best efforts, some worker populations and worker groups still experience higher rates of injuries and illnesses, possibly due to occupational health disparities.

When people hear “process safety,” they think of chemical plants and oil refineries. But process safety actually applies to any process that has potential for harm. OSHA’s process safety management standard identifies fourteen elements that are required for management of large volumes of highly hazardous chemicals. This article discusses how those elements may be applied to any workplace.