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...

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...

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 KerinRead 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...

This episode discusses the 1989 Pasadena chemical plant explosion that claimed 23 lives. The incident led to the modernization of process safety measures in the U.S. Trish and Traci emphasize the importance of dedicated firewater systems, meticulous maintenance procedures, and strategies to combat complacency. They also explore the use of case studies and emphasize the positive legacy of Mary Kay O'Connor in promoting process safety. Subscribe to stay informed and visit chemicalprocessing.com...

A deep understanding of risks empowers us to make informed decisions

Plants with good safety performance can become complacent over time, and lessons learned from incidents are often forgotten. It's crucial to instill and maintain a culture of constant unease to ensure ongoing safety. According to the article, Former chair of the UK’s Health and Safety Executive Judith Hackitt bluntly warns: “Be clear that your role is to create unease, not to provide false (re)assurance.”

In any facility, we always need to consider the risks and ensure we are managing them with appropriate controls to ensure process safety. Especially when we make changes, we need to ensure that different circumstances are considered.

In this episode, we discuss risk assessment. The chemical industry is a high-hazard industry. That does not mean it has to be high-risk. We have to effectively manage risk to prevent an incident, and then if prevention fails, mitigate the consequences. If we get this wrong, people die. 

In our latest episode, we sit down with Dr. Cheryl Bodnar, one of the brilliant minds behind "Contents Under Pressure," an immersive game designed to teach process safety. Discover the story behind the game and its impact on education and industry. https://contentsunderpressure.engineering.uconn.edu/ Transcript: https://chemicalprocessing.com/33010965

By following these tips, chemical facilities can enhance the effectiveness of their process-hazard reviews in the Management of Change (MoC) process, minimizing the risk of missing critical safety considerations and ensuring a robust safety management system.

In Case You Missed It edition of Process Safety with Trish and Traci. In Case You Missed It brings the written word to life. In today’s episode, Trish Kerin, the director of IChemE Safety Centre, and Stay Safe columnist for Chemical Processing, will read her column “Prepare For The Worst”, which appeared in the August 2023 edition of Chemical Processing magazine. She explains how safety training saved her from dying during a scuba diving mishap

The tragedy exposed various deficiencies in safety management and emergency response. It remains a stark reminder of the importance of rigorous risk assessment, effective control measures, continuous monitoring of safety systems, and fostering a culture where workers feel empowered to stop unsafe work. 

Weak signals occur all around us every day, but we often either fail to notice them -- or their significance. It might be an unexpected or unexplainable alarm, a lead indicator that may be easily dismissed as false, or an observation by a worker. Apply the Platypus Philosophy to recognize these signals and make your facility safer.

Inspired by a recent study about DuPont and 3M's knowledge of the toxicity of PFAS chemicals, this podcast discusses the importance of transparency and emphasizes the need for professionals to exercise their ethical judgment and stand up for what is right.

The cause of the explosion was traced back to a heat exchanger at the plant. Written procedures, checklists, redundancy and assessing risks for transient and unusual operations can help avoid catastrophe.

In this Fast Facts edition of Process Safety with Trish & Traci we discuss the lessons learned that led to the four principles of inherent safety as championed by the late Trevor Kletz.  Many lives could be saved if the rules are applied.

A corroded vapor line caused the deadly incident. This episode talks about ways to stay ahead of corrosion concerns and how to better protect workers in case of unthinkable catastrophe.  

Storytelling as a means of communication is a valuable tool to help people learn and retain important lessons. It is not about making things up but rather creating a memorable interaction.

Cognitive biases lead to process-safety events. By getting our brains used to looking for the unusual, we can better manage safety in our facilities. Trish Kerin, director of the IChemE Safety Centre, has staked her entire professional engineering career on talking about a weird animal as a way to try and help people understand and manage their weak signals. Transcript can be found at https://www.chemicalprocessing.com 

Trish and Traci discuss the response to the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment noting that environmental factors could be an issue for some time. Also, this episode unpacks how ExxonMobil was able to weather a hurricane just five miles from the epicenter without loss of containment. Access the full transcript at https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/podcasts/article/11354264/chemical-processing-podcasts

Insight into rescue challenges and solutions at chemical facilities. Visit https://www.chemicalprocessing.com for more tools and resources aimed at helping you be efficient and safe.

Turning tragedy into tools to help avoid future catastrophes will help keep workers safe.

The workplace can be so much more for colleagues than simply doing a job and going home. If you want to succeed, you need to listen and communicate as it's the currency of safety.

Practice, practice and more practice makes great emergency response but be careful of the message you are sending.