Keeping Process Safety Management Intact during Global Pandemic

ABSTRACT

Process Safety Management (PSM) is the backbone of any process industry and is fundamental to its businesses, plant reliability, safe operations, employee well-being and prevention of catastrophic events. In order to grow or sustain business and be responsible for its employees' health, good organizations never compromise on the foundation of PSM in their business and operational decisions. But what if a deadly disease alters the way how organizations and systems typically work? Can we quickly adapt to such unprecedented challenges? Are we able to fulfill all requirements of a process safety management system in this extraordinary scenario? The paper will cover this topic in detail and it will shed light on the encountered challenges and tested best practices in order to maintain PSM during a global pandemic. Effects of a pandemic on key important factors related to PSM will be discussed like management of change, employee motivation, process hazard analysis, job supervision, process monitoring, competency levels, training & development etc. Building on similar personal experience, the paper will also cover many interesting methods and suggestions for safety professionals and line managers to successfully adapt to the changes in this scenario while not compromising their process safety management systems. © 36th Center for Chemical Process Safety International Conference, CCPS 2021 - Topical Conference at the 2021 AIChE Spring Meeting and 17th Global Congress on Process Safety.