New OSHA Chemical Safety Directive Draws Criticism Over Clarity

A new OSHA inspection directive for refineries, chemical plants, and other businesses handling large amounts of hazardous chemicals retains vague interpretations of the law even as it provides updates to decades-old guidance, some workplace safety attorneys said.

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration last week issued a 103-page revision to its enforcement directive for process safety management—known as PSM for short. It took 30 years of OSHA letters interpreting workplace safety law in response to direct inquiries and organizing them into a single document.

However, some attorneys said referencing those letters don’t address employers’ concerns about vague interpretations, ...