Process Safety with Trish & Traci

In this episode, we offer 7 steps for better cybersecurity. If you are a process control engineer, an IT professional in a company with an automation division, or a business manager responsible for safety or security, you may be wondering how your organization can get moving on more robust cybersecurity practices. View the transcript for links to all the materials mentioned in this podcast. https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/process-safety-w-trish-traci/article/33038811/tipisodes-7-steps-to-better-cybersecurity

Boeing was known for its engineering excellence until a focus on profitability took over. Properly documenting management of change and recognizing weak signals could have prevented tragedy. In this episode of Process Safety with Trish & Traci, we discuss the aviation industry's Boeing 737 MAX crisis and how it revealed critical management failures, emphasizing the importance of rigorous management of change, prioritizing safety over profitability and identifying weak signals. The mishaps stemmed from design flaws and inadequate pilot training, highlighting the need for systemic improvements to prevent similar tragedies. Lessons extend to other industries, emphasizing proactive risk mitigation and a culture of safety.

A hazard and operability study (HAZOP) mostly is a safety design check, not a design development review. Making and finalizing major design choices should occur long before a HAZOP. In this In Case You Missed It Episode, Traci Purdum reads a column from Plant InSites columnist Andrew Sloley.   Written By: Andrew Sloley Read By: Traci Purdum  Read Article: https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/voices/plant-insites/article/21437737/use-hazops-properly

In today's episode, Trish and Traci discuss inherently safer design principles, emphasizing proactive safety measures. Trish shares examples, such as separating hazardous substances from work areas and minimizing potential risks through thoughtful design choices. They highlight challenges like maintaining design integrity throughout project phases and stress the importance of documenting safety rationale for future reference. The discussion extends to the intersection of inherently safer design with sustainability, emphasizing the need for ongoing vigilance and communication to ensure safer facilities and environments.

Daily experiences vary, but key events hold lessons. Reflection is vital for learning and shaping success.   Written By: Trish Kerin Read By: Trish Kerin  Read Article HERE https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/voices/stay-safe/article/33018718/the-difference-between-experiences-and-learning-in-process-safety

In their podcast, Trish and Traci discuss the importance of commemorating anniversaries of incidents, emphasizing the need to learn from the past. Trish highlights two reasons for reflection: learning from past events to prevent recurrence and honoring those who lost their lives. They delve into various historical incidents, such as the IChemE Safety Centre's 10th anniversary, the LNG explosion in Algeria, the Boston molasses spill, the flour dust explosion in Germany, the Valdez oil spill, Flixborough, the Phillips Petroleum incident in Texas, and the 40-year anniversary of the Bhopal disaster. The discussion underscores the ongoing relevance of these incidents and the importance of continuous learning in process safety.

Welcome to the crossover edition of Process Safety with Trish and Traci -- the podcast that aims to share insights from past incidents to help avoid future events. I’m Traci Purdum, EIC of Chemical Processing. Today’s crossover is from our Chemical Processing Distilled podcast series. I recently spoke with Dave Strobhar, founder and principal human factors engineer for Beville Engineering. We discussed Unlocking Efficiency By Reducing Emergency Procedures. This conversation struck me as a perfect addition to the Trish & Traci series, so without further adieu, let’s listen in.

In this episode, Trish and Traci, along with guest Melissa Humphries, discuss the challenges of intuitively understanding uncertainty and likelihoods in risk assessments. They highlight the common pitfalls of dismissing low-likelihood events and the impact of human nature on risk perception. Melissa explains statistical concepts like risk and uncertainty, emphasizing the importance of communicating findings effectively. They delve into the role of statistical methods in identifying influential factors affecting risk and stress the need for storytelling and stakeholder engagement in conveying complex statistical results.

This In Case You Missed It episode brings the written word to life. Today, Trish Kerin, the director of IChemE Safety Centre, and Stay Safe columnist for Chemical Processing, will read her column “Reflecting On Tragedy Can Improve Process Safety,” which appeared in the December 2023 edition of our magazine. Written By: Trish Kerin Read By: Trish Kerin  Read Article HERE 

In the podcast episode, Traci and Trish discuss the 31st anniversary of the La Mède Refinery explosion in France, detailing the events and the consequences, including six fatalities and significant financial loss. Trish emphasizes the importance of rigorous corrosion inspection programs and the need for comprehensive risk assessments in facility design. They explore legal implications, questioning the attribution of blame to specific individuals. The conversation shifts to the need for explosion-proof control rooms and considerations for retrofitting existing facilities. Traci raises the importance of space between units to prevent a domino effect during explosions, and Trish highlights various mitigation measures, including advanced firefighting techniques and vapor barriers. The episode underscores the continual evolution of safety technologies and emphasizes the importance of embracing new developments to enhance facility safety.