Washington State’s New Safety Management Rules for Petroleum Workers

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries filed a formal update to workplace safety rules designed to prevent catastrophic events the Tesoro explosion that killed seven workers in 2010 and the Equilon incident in 1998 that killed six.

The updated rules govern the way workplaces handle dangerous chemicals, what’s known as process safety management. The updates focus specifically on petroleum refineries.

The updated rules take effect Dec. 27, 2024, and include:

• Performing reviews to identify the most effective ways to control a hazard;
• Regular review for processes that are likely to damage or wear down equipment;
• Planning and analysis that prioritizes risks according to the danger they create, and then identifies and documents effective safety measures;
• Incorporating consideration of human factors like staffing levels and turnover, training, fatigue, and task complexity;
• Conducting root cause analyses after significant accidents;
• Frequently analyzing hazards, safeguards and controls, mechanical factors, and process changes and updating safety programs accordingly; and
• Assessing workplace safety culture so workers and managers prioritize safety, not production.

Full details of the proposed rule are available on the L&I website.

Topics Energy Oil Gas Washington