CSB Finds Recent Refining and Petrochemical Fatigue Management Systems Fall Short

May 1, 2013- The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) reports that the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) findings doubt the efficacy of the recent Recommended Practice ANSI/RPI 755, Fatigue Risk Management Systems for Personnel in the Refining and Petrochemical Industries, noting that while it does contribute to fatigue-related chemical safety, it “falls short of what a fatigue standard should require of employers."

CSB recommends that the American Petroleum Institute and the United Steelworkers International Union join forces to development an ANSI standard that takes into account the CSB’s investigation of the 2005 explosions and fires at the BP Texas City refinery, specifically recommending "prevention guidelines for the refining and petrochemical industries that limit hours and days of work and also address shift work."

According to CSB, RP 755:

•  was not balanced in terms of stakeholder interests and perspectives and did not sufficiently incorporate the input of experts from other industry sectors that have addressed fatigue risks
  
• lacks explicit requirements in the form of “shall” language for the essential elements of an effective fatigue management system
• places undue emphasis on “soft” or “personal” components of fatigue control, such as self-evaluation by employees, evaluation by supervisors, and training and education, without supporting scientific evidence of their efficacy
  
• requires limits on hours and days at work that are generally more permissive and less protective than those suggested by current scientific knowledge 
  

Download a .pdf of the full report here. The CSB has also established a Facebook page for following and commenting on recent developments in the recent Texas fertilizer plant explosion.

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