Which statement accurately describes a Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR)?

• A. It is conducted after startup.
• B. It is a routine housekeeping check.
• C. It verifies safeguards are in place before startup after modification or change.
• D. It replaces the risk assessment.

Answer: (C)

A Pre-Startup Safety Review is a formal check done before restarting a plant after any modification or change to ensure all safety measures are in place and ready to protect people and equipment. It verifies that safeguards such as interlocks, relief devices, alarms, and shutdown systems exist and function, that procedures and permits are in order, that training is completed, and that the startup checklist is ready. This ensures the system can be brought back online safely after changes.

It isn’t a routine housekeeping check, which would focus on cleaning or general tidying rather than safety readiness. And it doesn’t replace a risk assessment—the risk assessment identifies hazards and required controls, while the PSSR confirms those controls have been implemented and are operable before startup.