California proposes new regulations to strengthen environmental safety at oil refineries

The department of industrial relations (DIR), the Governor’s office of emergency services (Cal OES) and the California environmental protection agency (CalEPA) in the US have unveiled a set of regulations to improve environmental safety at oil refineries across the state.

Intended to make refineries safer for workers, as well as surrounding communities in California, the two regulatory proposals implement key recommendations of the Governor’s inter-agency working group on refinery safety.

Prior to announcing these regulations, the agency consulted with workers, industry, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and communities, following a chemical release and fire at Chevron’s Richmond oil refinery in August 2012.

Labour and workforce development agency secretary David Lanier said: “The proposed regulations will put into place new strategies to prevent major incidents at refineries, and to protect refinery workers and surrounding communities from exposure to health and safety risks.”

The two regulations included in the proposal are overhauling Cal / OSHA worker safety regulations and strengthening the California accidental release prevention programme (CalARP) regulations.

Key features of the regulations are increased employer accountability for the mechanical integrity of refinery equipment, requirements to adopt inherently safer designs and systems and increased employee involvement in all aspects of the safety and prevention programme.

Periodic workplace safety culture assessments, authority for refinery personnel to close a unit in the event of an unsafe condition or emergency, and requirements for investigations to determine root causes of any incidents also form part of the regulations.

US chemical safety board chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland said: “The proposed amendments to the California process safety management programme and accidental release prevention programme are significant improvements that will strengthen protections for workers, communities and the environment, based on lessons learned and best practices.

“We look forward to seeing the final regulations implemented and hope that they prove to be a model for refinery worker protection and public safety for the rest of the country.”