The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) published two notifications regarding PSM, process safety management, in the Royal Gazette on 12 July 2021 by virtue of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand Act, B.E.2522 (1979). IEAT announced the Regulations of the Board of Directors of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand: Governing Rules, Procedures and Conditions for Business Operations in Industrial Estates (No. 4) B.E. 2559 (2016), in May 2016 to introduce PSM and it has been fully effective since May 2021 following to a grace period of 5 years. PSM is designed based on OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119. and targets industries which use or store certain amount of highly hazardous chemicals.
The notifications provide details and clarifications for viable implementation of PSM. Two notifications are as follows:
- Notification of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand No. 34/2564 regarding Guidelines for the Assessment of Process Safety Management in Industrial Estate (No. 2)
http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2564/E/155/T_0071.PDFThe notification revises IEAT Notification No. 115/2561. According to the notification, an internal audit shall be conducted every calendar year and the report shall be submitted by April of the next year. Industry shall keep the record of the internal audit for at least three years. On the other hand, an external audit shall be carried out every three years by registered third party and the report shall be submitted by April after 3 consecutive years. An external audit is also required in case of factory expansion or after serious incident.
- Notification of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand No. 35/2564 regarding Qualifications of Auditors and Registration of External Auditors
http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2564/E/155/T_0086.PDFThe notification, which replaces previous notification No. 116/2561, prescribes qualifications to be a PSM auditor as well as how to register as an external auditor. Those who is qualified to be internal auditors and external auditors need to take the internal auditor training course or the external auditor training course for 18 hours, respectively. The qualifications of the trainer for these courses shall be specified by the IEAT. An external auditor shall make a registration in accordance with the notification.
These notifications have been effective from the next day of the announcement in the Royal Gazette.