OPENPSM

FAQs

Do I really need OpenPSM?

OpenPSM helps you prove that the Process Safety Management systems you have in place meet regulatory standards. All COMAH sites must have a Major Accident Prevention Policy (MAPP). In turn, the MAPP must be supported by suitable management systems and procedures. Using OpenPSM will provide the data you need to demonstrate this to the regulators and relevant stakeholders.

Who is the best person to own and manage this?

Process Safety Management is very much a collective responsibility. From the boardroom to the shop floor, everyone has a part to play. Many companies find appointing element champions to oversee projects is a good way to structure things. And with OpenPSM, appointed stakeholders can gain controlled access to a living database of key information, findings and actions.

Are some PSM elements more important than others?

There will be some areas that you may already know you need to put more emphasis on. OpenPSM will help you understand the workload this may create by allowing you to conduct a review of the management systems and then, deep-dive assessments to assess where the work needs to be done first. This culminates in an action plan being created with appropriate timings and scheduled work. Over time you can start to tackle other areas, given resource and plant implications, so you create your PSM journey in the most manageable way.

Why might I need OpenPSM?

Under a Duty of Care, chemical and pharmaceutical companies must be able to demonstrate they understand what can go wrong; what systems are in place to prevent it happening; and that they can show up to date information to evidence this. With OpenPSM in your corner, you’re able to put in place a robust structure that enables you to demonstrate your business meets the criteria set out by industry regulators.

What types of review can I do using OpenPSM?

As Open PSM is an in-house SaaS application, you can use it as and when you need to carry out:

PSMS Reviews – where a standard protocol is used to assess strengths and weaknesses of Process Safety Management Systems against good practice guidance.

Deep Dive Assessments – which examine practices at an operational level in relation to corporate systems and procedures.

Why choose OpenPSM over my current programme? 

Process Safety Management changes and improvements are often in response to individual requests from regulators, managers or after an event. As a result, information is held in separate reports. OpenPSM is the only system that automatically holds data in one single hub.

There seems a lot to cover, where do we start?

A good place to start is with a desk-based review of key Risk Control Systems (RCS). This will determine the ‘current state’ for each RCS. Based on this, a realistic ‘future state’ can be established. The gap between ‘current’ and ‘future’ states will reveal what needs to be done to develop company systems and procedures. OpenPSM can help you do this, along with deep dive assessments to understand the current level of compliance around existing systems.

We’re really busy, will this just find more problems, more work and more cost?

The beauty of OpenPSM is that it breaks down tasks into manageable bite-sized chunks. Management systems reviews and deep dive assessments are carried out as mini projects. Also, compared to subcontracting the work to a third party, any extra costs uncovered can be significantly offset by savings made.

Does OpenPSM require special hardware to operate?

Secure access to OpenPSM is available via any internet enabled PC, tablet or mobile. A fully responsive platform, OpenPSM will react to the device it’s being displayed on.

Is OpenPSM totally secure?

Open PSM works as a fully relational cloud database, capable of supporting millions of records. With 99.9% guaranteed uptime, it offers dependable and robust use. For data security, each user has separate access and log-in to the OpenPSM app. Powerful 256-bit encryption supports organisation, role and record level access with daily back up and disaster recovery services available. Further information is available.

How can OpenPSM ensure continuous improvement?

To embed continuous improvement into OpenPSM, a standard protocol has been built around the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. This applies to both PSMS Reviews and Deep Dive Assessments. In the case of PSMS Reviews, a series of attributes are used to assess how rigorously systems are implemented. According to the attributes applied, OpenPSM then automatically determines the appropriate level of maturity for each PSM Element. This triggers a process for Corrective Actions and continuous improvement, taking into account any positive deviations.

What do I do if I have any more questions

We’re always here to help, whether it’s a question especially about OpenPSM or Process Safety Management in general.

You can get in touch by phone 0161 509 9392 or email contactus@openpsm.uk.

Want to put OpenPSM to work for your business? Contact us today for more information or to arrange a no-obligation demo.