Engineering English
Process Safety Management
Chemical Engineering · Engineering Safety · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: Process safety management is a systematic framework for identifying, understanding, and controlling hazards in industrial processes to prevent major accidents involving hazardous materials. It combines engineering design, operating procedures, and management systems to ensure safe operation.
Example in context
“Implementing process safety management across the refinery reduced the risk of major accidents by more than 50%.”
“Rafineri genelinde proses güvenliği yönetiminin uygulanması, büyük kaza riskini %50'den fazla azalttı.”
Where engineers use it
Process safety management appears in regulatory frameworks like OSHA PSM and industry standards. It is used during hazard analyses, audits, and daily operations to systematically identify and control process hazards. Engineers need it to prevent catastrophic releases and ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
Synonyms: PSM, process safety program
In Engineering Safety
A structured framework for preventing releases of hazardous energy or material from industrial processes, covering hazard analysis, mechanical integrity, management of change and emergency planning. It targets major accidents rather than personal injuries.
“Process safety management requires that any change to operating limits pass through a formal review before the modification is implemented on the plant.”
Practice: can you use “Process Safety Management” at work?
During a pre-startup safety review for a hydrogenation unit, the lead engineer asks why process safety management is critical. The trainee must explain how it systematically identifies hazards and implements controls to prevent major accidents.
Show a model answer
“We must apply process safety management to this new unit to meet regulatory requirements.”
“Process Safety Management” in 21 languages
| English | Process Safety Management |
|---|---|
| Turkish | proses güvenliği yönetimi |
| French | gestion de la sécurité des procédés |
| German | Prozesssicherheitsmanagement |
| Spanish | gestión de seguridad de procesos |
| Chinese | 过程安全管理 |
| Arabic | إدارة سلامة العمليات |
| Portuguese | gestão de segurança de processos |
| Russian | управление безопасностью процессов |
| Japanese | プロセス安全管理 |
| Italian | gestione della sicurezza di processo |
| Vietnamese | quản lý an toàn quá trình |
| Hindi | प्रक्रिया सुरक्षा प्रबंधन |
| Thai | การจัดการความปลอดภัยของกระบวนการ |
| Indonesian | manajemen keselamatan proses |
| Korean | 공정 안전 관리 |
| Bengali | প্রক্রিয়া নিরাপত্তা ব্যবস্থাপনা |
| Dutch | procesveiligheidsbeheer |
| Swedish | processäkerhetsledning |
| Finnish | prosessiturvallisuuden hallinta |
| Ukrainian | управління безпекою процесів |
Frequently asked questions
What does Process Safety Management mean in engineering?
Process safety management is a systematic framework for identifying, understanding, and controlling hazards in industrial processes to prevent major accidents involving hazardous materials. It combines engineering design, operating procedures, and management systems to ensure safe operation. In Chemical Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Process Safety Management?
Process Safety Management is pronounced /ˈprɒsɛs ˈseɪfti ˈmænɪdʒmənt/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Process Safety Management used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “Implementing process safety management across the refinery reduced the risk of major accidents by more than 50%.”
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