Technical Process and Safety Excellence Today:
A Top – Notch Needed Virtue
Abstract
Leading organisations and businesses continue to seek and implement safety process management frameworks in renewed efforts to reduce risks and create safe, reliable and sustainable operations, yet major incidents still occur. In the last decade, there has been a spike in the number of hazards and occurrences which had a significant impact on the safety industry.
This imbalance has prompted a lot of reactions and search for solutions to this anomaly. As such experts and businessmen have continued to create strategies to improve their safety management systems. This has given birth to increased surveillances and improvements of technical process safety in our modern era. This paper discusses critical aspects of technical process safety and reviews other elements as it shares the relevance of process safety to operational excellence.
Introduction
Process safety has been practiced as a field of research and safety management since the 1960s. Over this period there have been many tragic incidents, which have resulted in fatalities as well as asset, environmental, and reputation damage (Abukhader, 2014). While standards have improved since then and much work has been done, particularly in inherently safer design and management systems, catastrophic incidents are still happening and will continue to do so until efforts are improved on tackle them head on. As the world advances, the quest for effective process and safety increased especially within concerned stakeholders. This is because process safety enhances productivity excellence as they go hand in hand. In the last century, a number of catastrophic accidents have drawn the attention of regulators towards process safety. Recently, there has been a rapid evolution in the complexity of processes and facilities, thus leading to high profile risks within the safety industry (Ghettas,2015). In several developed, industrialised countries, strict regulations and standards are applied to emphasis process safety. Today the use of risk – based approach is common and a requirement of many regulatory bodies around the world.
The foundation of process safety is to manage risks and reduce them to a tolerable level. It is on this premise that this paper seeks to strengthen the relevance of technical process and safety excellence in this era as we envisage a safer world and workplace.
Concept of Technical Process and Safety
Many people have their own idea and interpretation as what constitute technical process and safety. Basically, technical and process safety is a blend of management, engineering, operations maintenance and human resource skills to prevent catastrophic accidents.
It is a disciplined framework for managing the integrity of operating systems and processes on good principles and maintenance practices. Process and technical safety is a discipline that focuses on the prevention of fire, explosions, and accidental discharge at process facilities (Jones, 2017).
It is a disciplined framework for managing the integrity of operating systems and processes on good principles and maintenance practices. Process and technical safety is a discipline that focuses on the prevention of fire, explosions, and accidental discharge at process facilities (Khan, 2013).
Juanita, (2017) sees technical process and safety as an effort to ensure that well considered and sufficient technical thoroughness and rigour are applied to programs and projects under an uncompromising commitment to safety mission success.
Technical process safety is a wide range of programs for dealing and managing changes in people, equipment and technology for the purpose of minimising or eliminating unexpected losses (Louvar, 2018).
The varying definitions above suggest that process safety needs to evolve with industry to stay current with the dynamic technological, societal, and economic standards of society. Process safety professionals, across industry, academia, and regulators, have an obligation to drive this improvement focused towards improvements in process safety performance, which will ultimately lead us to our vision of zero incidents
Elements of Process Safety Management
In carrying out and maintaining technical safety process, some key elements required. They include;
- Technology
- Design and Engineering Facilities
- Hazard Assessment
- Regular Inspection and testing
- Equipment Maintenance
- Implementation of Process Control
- Proper Operation procedures
- Management of Change (Human & Facilities)
Reasons for Technical Process and Safety
Unquestionably, technical process and safety is regarded as an organisation’s most critical asset – if not the most needed. Therefore, there are numerous reasons to carry out and implement technical process safety in a workforce. Some of these reasons are;
- Prevention of major accidents and hazards and potential impact of same
- Managing risks within a risk a facility or workforce
- Increasing sustained value and boosting productivity
- Ease production and service delivery at less cost
- Keeping the environment safe
- Increased shareholder value
All these can be actualised through commitment and adherence to rules and regulations without deviation.
Fundamental Questions in Technical and Safety Management Process
To reduce or manage associated risks within a facility or workforce, it is imperative to outline and ask the following fundamental questions;
- What can go wrong?
- Are proper controls in place if a major incident occurs?
- What are the expectations of each safety equipment or process?
- What certainty/assurance is there that they will work as intended?
A sound safety technical process can be achieved if these questions are analysed and answered.
Importance of Process Technical Safety Management
Owing to the increasing cases of catastrophic and deadly events across the world, there is the need to change the narrative;
Process safety among many other values sustains economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. This is through periodic assessment and instalment of prevention equipment and personnel. It is agreed that technical process and safety impacts people, communities, assets and environment (McLennan, 2018).
It also strengthens inter- sectoral harmony. As a multi-disciplinary approach, it brings professionals of different fields and synergises a union dedicated safety and technical performance. This collaborative potential enhances a fusion of safety excellence and bond of technical excellence within stakeholders (Shariff, 2017) .
Technical process safety hinders major catastrophes from happenings (injuries and fatalities) and promote safe workforce (people and equipment). The entire process seeks to attain safety and loss of viable economic and productivity resources.
Problems Associated with Process and Technical Safety
In a fast rapidly advanced world, modern trends are dominating and setting the pace for new discoveries. As such old patterns are finding it difficult to cope. Process and technical safety have been with a lot of challenges;
Communication Imbalance: safety is not the responsibility of one, it is the differences in communication and understanding sometimes that opens with a detrimental impact on general organisational safety and operations. Clear stipulations of roles and assignments within stakeholders without a defined consensus can be a limiting factor in technical process safety attainment as regulations vary greatly between jurisdictions (Renton, 2016)
Human Error: Human designs and activities in operations is a strong possibility that adds to the challenges encountered in process and safety management exercise. Human inadequacies and weakness arising from stress, fatigue and lack of concentration are potential facilitators of accidents from human errors and can limit process and technical safety (Vernix, 2019).
Workforce Shortage: today, there is a dearth of process safety experts. It is anticipated that by 2022, there will be a deficit of safety professionals by 10%. This is because of the retiring boom of the experienced old workforce and the shortage of the undeserving upcoming ones. This generational gap is creating a workforce imbalance in the safety sector (Thompson, 20120.
Funding: general investment in technical process and safety management especially in this era is a major setback in process safety excellence. This has hindered explicit investment on cutting edge technology for integration of modern safety concepts and procedures. Lack of funding has limited the spread of expertise resulting in shortage of professionals and lack of interest in the career (Zhao, 2015).
Solutions
Sound and Clear Communication: the success of any project is embedded in clear definition of who does what and at what point. For an effective technical process safety management, there should be simple and well understood medium of communication among all stakeholders.
Extensive Training/Update: to eradicate the human factor of errors, there is an urgent need to frequent training and updating on technical process safety activities. This is to keep abreast of changing practices and also develop a technically sound workforce that will minimise human errors and promote safety.
Funding: this is where the private sector and wealthy individuals come to play. A deregulation of the safety industry to woo
investor through sound and economic viable policies that are affordable and effective will boost investment confidence into the sector.
Workforce Replacement: safety experts must deliberately pull up younger professionals and mould them as future assets. Also, schools should include reformed safety curriculum in their programmes to attract students that will be thought with practical modern tools.
Conclusion
Technical process and safety are a top-notch requirement for business and the general public. Therefore, in all endeavours, safety should be the top priority. Practicing industrial and organisational safety and complying with regulatory standards while keeping an eye on enforcement of standards is the best way to ensure smooth – safety and business operations.
Further Reading
Abukhader, M.M (2014) Impact of Human Behaviour on Process Safety Management in Developing Countries, Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 82(6):431-437
Ghettas, B (2015) Evaluation of Process Safety Management Effectiveness in Critical Sectors, Rochester Institute of Technology
Juanita, E.B (2017) Operational Programs in Improving Process Safety; Integrating Safety Occupational Trend;
Willers Press Warwickshire, UK
Jones, A.S (2017) The Next Frontier of Digital Technologies in Process Safety Industry; Texas A&M University, USA
Khan, M.I (2013) Developing a Safety Culture in Developing Countries; International Conference on Safety, Construction, Engineering and Project Management
Louvar, J (2018) Improving the Effectiveness of Process Safety Management in Small Companies, Process Safety Progress 27(4)
McLennan, C (2018) Process Safety Management and Operational Risk Management, Small Innovators Group, Budget and Tech Preferences, London, Uk
Shariff, A.M (2017) Interrelations between Process Safety Management Elements; Process Safety Progress, Vol. 36 issue 1, pages 74-80
Renton, N.C (2016) Tackling Occupational Hazards in Developing Countries; 29 Lecture on Safety Engineering and Risk Management
Thompson, J,R (2012) The Challenges to implement and Maintain and Effective PSM Program, John Wiley and Sons Publication prs 10473
Vernix, D.G (2019) Do we really know how to manage risks? Proceedings of International Symposium on Operational Risk Survey 2019
Zhao, G (2015) Management of Health, Safety, and Environment in Process Industry; Safety Science 46(6):908-920
