Safety Case Regime for MHIs

Workplace Safety and Health (MHI) Regulations

MHIs are covered by the Workplace Safety and Health (MHI) Regulations.

What are MHIs

MHIs comprise:

• Petroleum refining facilities.
• Petrochemical manufacturing facilities.
• Chemical processing plants.
• Installations where large quantities of toxic and flammable substances are stored or used.

The definition of a workplace as an MHI depends on:

• The nature of work activities.
• The inventory levels of the dangerous substances (present, or likely to be present) meeting or exceeding threshold quantities.

Safety Case Regime

While the likelihood of a major accident is low for MHIs, their complex operating environment and large volumes of highly hazardous chemicals mean that any accident can potentially result in catastrophic consequences.

The core feature of the WSH (MHI) Regulations is the Safety Case Regime. This regime allows flexibility for MHIs to tailor their risk mitigating measures, enabling MHIs to address their risk in a more holistic manner.

Under the Safety Case Regime, MHIs are expected to:

• Take on greater responsibilities.
• Proactively identify and manage Safety Health and Environment (SHE) risks through integration of all SHE protocols.
• Demonstrate to regulators that their risks are as low as reasonably practicable.

What is a Safety Case

A Safety Case is commonly presented using (and communicated through) a structured set of documentation that focuses on how major accidents are prevented at MHIs, and how the consequences to people and the vicinity are limited.

MHIs must keep and maintain Safety Cases for their installations.