Facility Siting

Facilities covered by the OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard 29 CFR 1910.119, are required to evaluate facility siting as part of their Process Hazard Analysis (PHA). This course provides guidance on assessing the potential impacts and risks to onsite occupied buildings using industry-recognized practices. These include API 752 for permanent buildings, API 753 for portable buildings, and CCPS guidelines. While these references offer a framework for siting studies, participants will learn how to apply a range of techniques. From checklists and screening analyses to consequence modeling and full Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA), the course will cover how to meet PSM requirements.

Facility siting is critical to ensure that occupied buildings are located safely relative to potential process hazards, including fires, explosions, and toxic releases. This course emphasizes evaluating the consequences of accidental releases, understanding the limitations of qualitative and quantitative assessments. It covers identifying buildings and locations that require protection. Participants will learn to apply industry best practices to reduce risk, enhance safety, and comply with regulatory expectations.

Through a combination of lecture and practical exercises, participants will explore the methods and tools used in facility siting studies. It will touch on consequence modeling for flammable vapor dispersion, jet and pool fires, vapor cloud explosions, and toxic hazards. The course also addresses mitigation strategies, evaluating blast and fire impacts on buildings, and developing recommendations for risk reduction that can be tracked and implemented effectively.