Facility Siting is an assessment of occupied buildings given potential exposure to explosion, fire and toxic hazards. As stated in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 29 CFR Part 1910, it is a requirement for Process Safety Management (PSM) covered processes.
Sites are always changing and, as a part of the Management of Change (MOC), the Facility Siting should be maintained in-line with these changes. At a minimum, the Facility Siting study should be updated and revalidated at least every 5 years, according to OSHA. While maintaining a current Facility Siting study can be a challenge, revalidation has many benefits aside from helping to provide a safer working environment.
Facility Siting is a continuous cycle. It is intended to be revised and updated as processes and facilities change, though it is not uncommon for the initial Facility Siting study to be considered “the end” or “the goal.”
