Process Safety with Trish & Traci

When Alarms Stop Warning and Start Failing

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Decades of guidance on alarm management exist. So why are control rooms still drowning in noise?

GKN Aerospace Incident Offers Lessons in Reactive Hazard Management

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Trish Kerin breaks down the runaway reaction that triggered a mass evacuation in Orange County, California, and explains what facilities handling reactive chemicals can learn about instrumentation, warning signs and emergency communication.

Editor's Note: We mention an upcoming webinar that Trish will be hosting: a webinar focused on leadership in uncertain times — looking at key strategies and tools we can use to navigate some of the challenges we're all facing globally right now. Use the code CPREADER for $5 off.

Process Safety: Meet Me Under the Clocks

Tue, 26 May 2026 08:13:55 -0500

The analog timepieces at Melbourne's Flinders Street Station offer a timeless lesson: sometimes the simplest solution is the most elegant — and the most reliable.

11 Fires, 60 Days: What's Really Behind the 2026 Refinery Crisis

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Eleven refinery and fuel facility fires across four continents in roughly 60 days — that's the alarming backdrop for this episode of Process Safety with Trish and Traci. Process safety expert Trish Kerin examines whether the 2026 incidents are a statistical anomaly or a symptom of deeper systemic pressure. She points to deferred maintenance, narrowing margins and the normalization of risk during periods of production stress as key contributing factors. Kerin also addresses the unique vulnerabilities of new facilities and aging infrastructure. Her bottom line: know your controls, check that they're working and talk to your people. Stick around for the bonus material at the end.

Leading Safely in a VUCA World

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

When economic pressures mount, safety vigilance can quietly erode — and that's when incidents happen. In this episode, process safety expert Trish Kerin introduces APTBED, a practical decision-making framework for navigating volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous times. The acronym covers six critical areas: Authority (know who's in charge), Psychological Safety (create space for honest information), Tacit and Explicit Knowledge (bring all knowledge into the room), Biases (recognize and manage cognitive blind spots), Expectations (manage them or people will fill the void), and Document Decisions (if it's not written down, it never happened). Good decisions and strong safety culture aren't mutually exclusive — even in a crisis.

When Level Nozzle Placement and Operator Behavior Collide

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500

When operators inevitably push levels to their limits, a poorly placed vapor inlet nozzle can turn a routine excursion into a tower-wrecking event.

Could vs. Should: What 'Jurassic Park' Can Teach Us About Process Safety

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Stay Safe Columnist Trish Kerin reads her latest article for Chemical Processing. She's a proud GenXer, and she points out that a line from Dr. Ian Malcolm cuts to the heart of a critical distinction in process safety — the difference between what we are allowed to do and what we ought to do. You can read the column here.

When Nature Attacks: Preparing Chemical Facilities for NATECH Events

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

When natural disasters strike industrial facilities, the results can be catastrophic — and most companies aren't ready. In this episode of Process Safety with Trish and Traci, Trish Kerin and Traci Purdum explore NATECH events, where natural hazards collide with industrial risk. Drawing on real incidents including Arkema in Crosby, Texas, BioLab in Lake Charles and the Fukushima disaster, they examine why facilities consistently underestimate natural hazard risk, how to build truly complete ride-out and recovery plans, and why traditional PHAs fall short for NATECH scenarios. Kerin's bottom line: assume the event will happen, and prepare accordingly.

Human Factors Engineering: Designing Systems Around Our Limitations

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Chernobyl, Bhopal, Three Mile Island, Deepwater Horizon, Texas City — What do they have in common? Human error or human factors were identified as contributing to the incidents. But what are these factors?

Understanding how people actually perceive, decide and act is essential to preventing catastrophic industrial accidents and everyday errors.

This In Case You Missed It episode brings the written word to life from the column:

Human Factors Engineering: Designing Systems Around Our Limitations

Revalidating Process Hazard Analysis: Getting Real Value

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Trish Kerin and Traci Purdum explore process hazard analysis revalidations and how to make them more effective. Kerin explains the difference between redoing a PHA and revalidating existing assessments, introducing the Delta HAZOP methodology that focuses on creeping change in facilities. She discusses triggers for revalidation, from legislative requirements to significant operational changes, and emphasizes the importance of selecting the right team and methodology. Kerin highlights how AI and machine learning can help gather data and identify trends, while stressing that human expertise remains essential. The key takeaway: approach revalidations with rigor and discipline, not as tick-box exercises, to truly identify hazards and manage risk effectively.

Calculate Risk to Capture Reward

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Applying risk management principles helps Process Safety Engineer Trish Kerin navigate her first successful year of self-employment. Listen in as Trish brings her January column to life. You can read her column here.

Challenger Disaster 40 Years Later: The Deadly Cost of Reversing Safety Burden

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Engineers couldn't prove danger, so managers launched anyway. Seven astronauts died when O-rings failed in freezing temperatures. Apply the lessons learned to help avoid future incidents.

Three Key Takeaways:

Reverse the burden of proof: Require positive proof that something is safe before proceeding, rather than forcing engineers to prove it's unsafe.
Simplify safety communication: Complex data failed to convince decision-makers, but a simple demonstration (O-ring in ice water) made the danger crystal clear.
Protect technical authority: Engineers need more than just formal authority to stop unsafe operations — they need genuine psychological safety to exercise that power without career consequences.

Bird’s-Eye View Prevents Process Safety Groundings

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This In Case You Missed It episode brings the written word to life. Today, Trish Kerin, the director of Lead Like Kerin, and Stay Safe columnist for Chemical Processing, will read her column "Bird’s-Eye View Prevents Process Safety Groundings," which was published to chemicalprocessing.com on Dec. 17, 2025.

Young Engineer Champions Process Safety Via Social Media

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In this year-end episode, hosts Trish Kerin and Traci Purdum welcome Hayley Little, a U.K.-based process safety engineer who tracks quarterly catastrophic incidents on LinkedIn. The discussion explores origin stories in process safety, the critical gap in fundamental safety knowledge outside petrochemical industries, and the alarming frequency of preventable incidents in lower-hazard sectors. They discuss innovative solutions including AI tools, virtual reality training and social media outreach to democratize process safety education. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for better university training, field presence over desk work and human factors integration to make it easier to "accidentally get it right."

Platypus, Duck or Weak Signal? Process Safety Lessons from Down Under

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This In Case You Missed It episode brings the written word to life. Today, Trish Kerin, the director of Lead Like Kerin, and Stay Safe columnist for Chemical Processing, will read the first few chapters from her book “The Platypus Philosophy – how to identify and manage weak signals”
This book explores weak signals and focuses on how to identify and manage them to prevent incidents. It uses fun storytelling about the unique platypus as a technique to explain complex concepts and tools.
You can purchase this book on Amazon or snag a signed copy from Trish’s website, leadlikekerin.com.

Buncefield Explosion: 20 Years Later, Critical Lessons on Tank Storage Safety

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The Buncefield explosion occurred when a gasoline storage tank overfilled after both its level gauge and independent high-level switch failed. Gasoline vapor formed a massive cloud that ignited, causing significant damage to surrounding business parks. Fortunately, the Sunday morning timing prevented fatalities, though 43 injuries occurred. The incident revealed critical gaps in safety control verification, testing procedures, and maintenance regimes. Twenty years later, the disaster emphasizes the importance of recognizing weak signals, maintaining bund integrity, and ensuring operators actively monitor tank filling operations rather than relying solely on automated systems.

Aborted Landing Reveals Critical Lessons in Safety Communication

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Trish Kerin reads her most recent column, which highlights the importance of immediate communication in safety situations, even when complete information isn't yet available to share.

You can read the column here.

Henry David Thoreau of Process Safety – Trevor Kletz

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Trevor Kletz revolutionized process safety through HAZOP advocacy, inherent safety principles, learning from accidents, and emphasizing design simplification over complex add-ons. In this episode, Trish & Traci discuss his many contributions to the world of process safety.

Hidden Hazards: 10 Common PHA Oversights

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:28:25 -0500

When OSHA's Process Safety Management (PSM) standard took effect in 1992, it promised a new era of systematic hazard identification. Three decades later, process safety professionals are still witnessing the same critical oversights repeatedly compromising facility safety—oversights that have contributed to near misses, and far worse, major incidents.

Editor-in-Chief Traci Purdum reads an article from Felicia Miller, senior principal engineer at ABSG Consulting and Darshankumar Lakhani, senior manager in engineering at ABSG.

Original article: https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/safety-security/risk-assessment/article/55311485/hidden-hazards-10-common-pha-oversights

How Equipment Reliability Impacts Process Safety

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This episode explores the critical role of equipment reliability in chemical processing, focusing on three major incidents: Longford, BP Texas City and Buncefield. Trish highlights how faulty instrumentation, poor maintenance and overlooked management of change led to catastrophic failures, fatalities and environmental impacts. The discussion emphasizes safety-critical elements, maintenance KPIs and the importance of accurate instrumentation.

Process Safety: The Dangers of Blindly Following Instructions

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Workers who challenge flawed procedures can improve safety and production. In this episode, Trish Kerin reads her latest column, which details how a trip to Tasmania with her sister turned getting lost into a process safety lesson of not blindly following procedures.

Enjoy as our favorite Australian safety guru guides you through the Bass Strait to Cataract Gorge.

Challenge the Illusion of Safety

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Trish Kerin and Traci Purdum discuss process safety insights with Alex Fernando and Warren Smith from Incident Analytics. Their research analyzed over 10,000 incidents across 12 countries and multiple high-risk industries.

Key findings include that organizations often misclassify serious incidents, missing critical learning opportunities. Many safety controls are "difficult" or "unworkable" in practice, with workers adapting procedures to get jobs done despite inadequate equipment or impractical requirements. The research reveals a significant gap between "work as imagined" and "work as done."

A fundamental shift in leadership thinking needs to take place — from asking "why didn't they follow the procedure?" to "why couldn't they follow the procedure?"

References:

Whitepaper 1

Whitepaper 2

Lessons From Deadly Permit-to-Work Failures

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This episode revisits the critical topic of permit-to-work systems, exploring how these systems manage the safe transfer of equipment ownership between operations and maintenance teams. Trish & Traci discuss key elements, different permit types, common failures, and the tragic Piper Alpha disaster.

Process Safety: Serve Up the Tim Tam Slam

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Mastering Tim Tam timing mirrors process safety's critical risk-reward balance. Get it right and you’ll reap rewards.

As the bickie became gooey in my fingers, I knew the moment was now — time to slam that Tim Tam.

A Tim Tam is an Australian bickie — or cookie, to those of you in the U.S. It was created in 1964 by Arnott’s and is an iconic Aussie treat. It consists of two rectangular bickies with a flavored cream filling that is coated in chocolate. A Tim Tam Slam is a unique way to consume the bickie. The steps are as follows:

Lessons Learned from the Columbia Disaster

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This 100th episode of "Process Safety With Trish and Traci" examines the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster through the lens of due diligence. Columbia disintegrated during re-entry after foam debris damaged heat shield tiles during launch. The podcast explores how NASA normalized foam strikes over time, turning "lessons of failure into memories of success." Multiple intervention opportunities were missed due to inadequate resources, poor communication, and cultural barriers.

Taming Static Electricity in Glass-Lined Reactors

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

On a sunny summer day in 2007 near Wichita, Kansas, a tanker truck was offloading naphthalene into a stainless-steel tank at a solvent tank farm when the container spontaneously ignited, catching fire and exploding, shooting projectiles in the air. This led to the evacuation of thousands in a nearby community. While there were no casualties, the explosion destroyed the entire storage facility, luckily not causing any injuries or fatalities in the nearby community.
An investigation determined that electrostatic charge buildup had caused a spark that ignited a solvent-air mixer in the vapor space in the vessel receiving naphtha from the tanker truck.

In this episode, Traci Purdum, CP's editor-in-chief, reads an article from authors Tom Patnaik and Christian Stentzel -- both of Thaletec. The article was published May 21, 2025.

AI and Machine Learning Transform Compliance, But Humans Still Key

Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Risk assessment should still be a manual process, but AI can streamline data collection to enable sound engineering judgments.

In this episode, Trish and Traci welcome guest Dheerajkumar Narang, whose research examines how AI and machine learning can enhance process safety compliance. Traditional compliance methods are time-consuming and fragmented across different systems, while AI can automate data collection, identify leading indicators and predict compliance outcomes. Key challenges include system integration with legacy infrastructure and maintaining domain expertise for regulatory updates. AI should streamline processes to allow operators to focus on critical tasks.

Callide Power Station: 34 Minutes to Disaster

Tue, 13 May 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Trish and Traci discuss the catastrophic failure at Queensland's Callide Power Station C4 on May 25, 2021, which caused power outages for 470,000 people. During a routine switching operation to replace DC battery systems, a voltage drop was misinterpreted as an AC fault, triggering a cascading failure. Both AC and DC systems failed, leaving the turbine without lubrication while it continued spinning backwards at 3,000 RPM.

The incident demonstrates that process safety principles apply beyond traditional chemical plants to any high-hazard environment. Key lessons include proper hazard identification, functioning safety controls, and maintaining culture, leadership, accountability and governance in safety management.

Process Safety: Wield Questions to Learn and Teach

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

“Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back.” – A proverb made modern by Eugene O’Neill.

Have you ever asked a question at work and were surprised by the answer? Over the course of my career, this has happened many times. Sometimes, the answer was genuinely new to me. Other times, I was surprised that someone thought the answer they provided was legitimate. In both cases, I learned something.

Written By: Trish Kerin
Read By: Trish Kerin
Read Article HERE

Deadly Lessons from BP Disasters

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Remembering the human toll of Texas City and Deepwater Horizon and applying those lessons learned can prevent similar tragedies.

In this episode, Trish and Traci discuss two major BP incidents: the 2005 Texas City Refinery explosion that killed 15 workers when an overfilled tower created a geyser of hot raffinate that ignited, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion that killed 11 workers and caused the largest U.S. marine oil spill when cement failed to properly seal a well. Key factors included faulty equipment, misleading indicators, inappropriate safety messaging and failure to learn from near-misses. These tragedies led to industry-wide improvements, including standardized process safety metrics, occupied building risk assessments, and better hazard management.

Stop Stupidity with Relief Devices

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Have you ever done a double-take when looking at an inspection photograph? I certainly did when an engineer at a valve manufacturer sent me an inspection photograph and asked, “See anything wrong with this picture?” “Yeah,” I replied. Someone had installed two expansion relief valves back-to-back on the body bleed of a twin-seated plug valve used for isolation in our gasoline tank farm. The valve casting safety port was cracked because expansion flow was choked. “Dumb, really dumb,” I remarked. How did this get by?

4 Cs of Effective Process Safety Storytelling

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In this podcast, Trish and Traci discuss the importance of storytelling in process safety. Trish shares two influential stories from her career and personal life. She outlines effective storytelling using the "four Cs": context, conflict, conclusion, and call to action. She emphasizes starting with a memorable moment to engage audiences, matching tone to content gravity, and personalizing stories.

An Engineer’s Process Safety Evolution

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Welcome to the In Case You Missed It edition of Process Safety with Trish and Traci -- the podcast that aims to share insights from past incidents to help avoid future events.

This In Case You Missed It episode brings the written word to life. Today, Trish Kerin, the director of Lead Like Kerin and Stay Safe columnist for Chemical Processing will read her column “An Engineer’s Process Safety Evolution.”

Can an AI Copilot Streamline HAZOPs?

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

A former Formula One engineer has developed an AI copilot that can suggest questions, reference incident databases and provide support. But don’t worry, humans still have the last word.

Job Hazard Analysis Makeover: 5 Crucial Steps

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Safety experts share strategies to revitalize job hazard analysis programs. A piece of paper won’t save your life, but what’s on that paper could.

Trish and Traci, along with guest Valerie Stakes, discuss five steps to improve job hazard analysis (JHA) programs: honest program evaluation, form clarity, embedding JHAs in other documents, improved training and increasing visibility through collaboration.

6 Process Safety Pearls of Wisdom

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

We’ve extracted a few gems from the 2024 season of Process Safety with Trish & Traci. Listen in as we discuss recurring accidents, emergency systems and organizational learning.

Process Safety Lessons from Bhopal 40 Years Later

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

This In Case You Missed It episode brings the written word to life. Today, Trish Kerin, Chemical Processing’s Stay Safe columnist, will read her column “Process Safety Lessons from Bhopal 40 Years Later”

Written By: Trish Kerin

Read By: Trish Kerin

Read Article

Butterflies of Bhopal -- Lessons Written in Blood

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The Bhopal tragedy of 1984 at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in India killed thousands of people. The incident resulted from multiple safety failures: contaminated methyl isocyanate (MIC) storage, disabled safety systems and poor plant management. It led to significant changes in process safety, including the development of OSHA's Process Safety Management standard, the Center for Chemical Process Safety, and international safety directives like the Seveso protocol. Chemical engineer Ramin Abhari has created graphic novels to communicate the lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of inherently safer design, proper management of change and maintaining critical safety systems during plant decommissioning.

What Have We Learned from the Pemex LPG Explosion in Mexico City?

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Trish and Traci discuss the 1984 Mexico City LPG disaster in Mexico, where a pipe burst at a Pemex facility. This led to a massive explosion equivalent to five Hiroshima bombs. A combination of factors, including poor management of change, inadequate fireproofing and proximity to residential areas, resulted in 500 deaths. Key lessons included the importance of proper land use planning, risk assessment and fire protection.

Manage Transient Operations to Achieve Process Safety -- 6 Steps to Follow

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0500

Chemical Processing recently hosted a webinar on the importance of process safety during transient operations. Normal operations include continuous and batch processes, while abnormal situations involve plant upsets or deviations from typical parameters. Loss of control can lead to unscheduled shutdowns, and emergency situations may require immediate action. For all scenarios, proper instrumentation, risk assessment and decision-making are critical. Trish Kerin, director of the IChemE Safety Centre and co-host of the Process Safety with Trish & Traci podcast series, served as the subject matter expert and emphasized that process safety revolves around leadership, focusing on knowledge, engineering, systems and human factors.

Process Safety: Knowledge Is Power – Or Is It?

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0500

Welcome to the In Case You Missed It 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. Please subscribe to this free podcast on your favorite platform to continue learning with Trish & me in this series.

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 “Knowledge Is Power – Or Is It?”
"Knowledge is power" — a phrase commonly attributed to Francis Bacon's 1597 work Meditationes Sacrae — has endured for centuries, echoed by influential figures like Thomas Jefferson. However, this adage, while impactful, may only scratch the surface of a deeper truth.
When it comes to process safety, we need people to understand a range of aspects, from the basis of design to the operating philosophy. In other words, we need them to have knowledge.

Written By: Trish Kerin

Read By: Trish Kerin

Read Article HERE

Lessons Learned from the Explosion at the Phillips Petroleum Complex

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0500

On the 35th anniversary of the deadly event we examine how routine maintenance can go horribly wrong.

Safety Lessons from the Deadly Molasses Flood of 1919

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 03:46:00 -0500

This In Case You Missed It episode brings the written word to life. Today, I will be reading a column by our editor at large Sean Ottewell “Safety Lessons from the Great Molasses Flood of 1919” -- Discover the catastrophic events of the Great Molasses Flood, where engineering failures led to a deadly wave of syrup in Boston’s North End.

Written By: Seán Ottewell, editor-at-large

Read By: Traci Purdum, editor-in-chief

Read Article HERE https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/voices/ottewell/article/55055791/safety-lessons-from-the-great-molasses-flood-of-1919

Process Safety Meets Nancy Drew, James Bond and MacGyver

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode of Process Safety with Trish and Traci we interview Fiona Erskine, an engineer and crime novelist who has a passion for process safety. Fiona discusses balancing her engineering career with writing and how she uses her novels to educate readers about process safety and engineering concepts. Her Dr. Jaq Silver series combines thrilling plots with accurate technical details, making complex topics accessible to non-experts.

Process Safety: It’s Not Impossible That It’s Possible

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Our tendency to underestimate the likelihood of rare occurrences can lead us to dismiss the possibility of process safety incidents.

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 “It’s Not Impossible That It’s Possible”

Written By: Trish Kerin

Read By: Trish Kerin

Read Article HERE

World’s First Process Safety Management Standard

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The standard's industry-agnostic approach, its potential to influence global PSM practices and its role in setting benchmarks for organizations not covered by traditional legislation will impact safety practices worldwide.

In this episode, Trish & Traci discuss the Canadian Process Safety Management (PSM) standard CSA Z767, the world's first national PSM standard. Adrian Pierorazio and Parnian Jadidian — part of the team that crafted the standard — explain its development, starting as a guideline and evolving into a national standard to provide a unified framework for PSM across various industries in Canada. The standard was updated in 2024 to incorporate industry feedback and expand key sections.

Prevent Dust Explosions During Processing

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The plant floor at the West Pharmaceuticals facility in Kingston, N.C., was kept spotless to meet hygiene requirements. However, combustible polyethylene dust accumulated in the suspended ceiling. This led to a dust explosion on January 29, 2003, that killed six workers, injured 38, and destroyed the plant. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) couldn’t identify the ignition source.

As I noted in a previous column, the CSB blames dust explosions for numerous fatalities at many plants. Let’s get into how to identify the risks of dust fires and explosions.

Written By: Dirk Willard

Read By: Traci Purdum

Read Article HERE

Lessons Learned From 1994 Texaco Refinery Explosion

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Control system failures, alarm floods, maintenance issues and emergency response factored into this non-deadly incident.

Dust Explosion Awareness Ebbs and Flows

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0500

In this guest podcast episode from our sister publication Processing, Senior Editor Nate Todd interviews Chris Cloney of Dust Safety Science. In this episode, we discover that awareness of dust hazards varies globally, often spiking after major incidents but waning over time. The company tracks dust-related incidents annually, noting significant events like the 2023 grain silo explosion in Brazil. Common hazards involve grain, wood and metal dusts, with equipment like dust collectors and silos frequently implicated. Emerging industries like 3D printing and robotics present new challenges. Dust Safety Science emphasizes ongoing education and risk assessment to prevent future incidents.

Corroded Pipe Elbow Sparks Explosion, Launches 38,000-lb Shrapnel

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board identified five issues with the 2019 Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refinery fire and explosion: mechanical integrity, outdated equipment, lack of remote emergency isolation valves, safeguard reliability and the need for inherently safer design.

https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/podcast/process-safety-with-trish-and-traci

Process Safety — Manage The Only Constant: Change

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Understanding the two kinds of change, deliberate and creeping, will aid you in keeping your facility a safe place to work.

As we look back 50 years, we can see both deliberate and creeping change played significant roles in the catastrophic explosion and fire that tore through the Nypro plant in Flixborough, U.K., resulting in the tragic loss of 28 lives and leaving 89 others injured.

Lessons Learned From Flixborough 50 Years Later

Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The Flixborough disaster in 1974 resulted in 28 fatalities and significant damage, leading to the introduction of management of change processes, improved asset integrity practices, emphasis on competency management, and enhanced control room safety measures. This landmark incident highlighted the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and continues to serve as a lesson in process safety.

Better Visibility Into Hazardous Chemicals

Tue, 21 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Time is critical when tracking down hazardous substances. Whether it’s trying to mitigate safety incidents before they happen or being able to tap all the pertinent information during an emergency involving a chemical spill, fire or natural disaster, having an efficient way to trace every ingredient is paramount.

This crossover episode first appeared in our Distilled podcast series.

Hazardous Lies: Former Safety Investigator Pens Fictional Thriller

Tue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Trish & Traci interview Stephen J. Wallace, a former investigator with the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and author of the book "Hazardous Lies." Wallace offers insights into the world of process safety investigations and the motivation behind his fictional thriller. Wallace draws from his real-life experiences to craft a realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by investigators, including companies' attempts to hide the truth, ethical dilemmas and the courage required to uncover the root causes of accidents.

Lessons Learned From the Deadly Formosa Explosion

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The incident at Formosa Plastics in 2004 highlighted critical lessons in process safety. Human factors, communication gaps and inadequate equipment played significant roles in the death of five workers.

10 Rules To Succeed at Process Safety Management

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500

This In Case You Missed It episode of Process Safety with Trish & Traci brings the written word to life. Today, I will be reading an excerpt from a column written a few years ago by John Bresland, president of Process Safety Risk Assessment LLC and former chair of the United States Chemical Safety Board. The column “10 Rules To Succeed at Process Safety Management."

Written by: John Bresland

Read by: Traci Purdum

URL: https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/safety-security/fire-explosion-protection/article/11321430/10-rules-to-succeed-at-process-safety-management-chemical-processing

Process Safety: Embrace Challenges, Recognize Limits, Manage Risks

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0500

It's crucial to operate within our professional boundaries and effectively mitigate risks when operating beyond them. In this In Case You Missed It episode, Trish Kerin, director of the IChemE Safety Centre, reads her most recent column:

Embrace Challenges, Recognize Limits, Manage Risks

Tipisodes: 7 Steps To Better Cybersecurity

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

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

Lessons Learned from Boeing’s 737 MAX Crisis

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Use HAZOPs Properly

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

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

Master Inherently Safer Design Principles

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Differences Between Experiences and Learning in Process Safety

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

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

Accident Anniversaries: Honoring Lives and Learning Lessons

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

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.

How Reducing Emergency Procedures Bolsters Safety

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Avoid Common Pitfalls of Risk Perception Via Statistics, Storytelling

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Reflecting On Tragedy Can Improve Process Safety

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

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

La Mède Refinery Tragedy Unveils Critical Corrosion Lessons

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Lessons Learned From The Deadly Explosion In Pasadena, Texas

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

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 for additional resources.

Don’t Let Risk Management Falter

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 11:16:20 -0500

A deep understanding of risks empowers us to make informed decisions

7 Steps To Maintaining Safety Awareness in Industrial Plants

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0500

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.”

Podcast ep 54: ICYMI — Understand the Difference Between On-Spec and Fit For Purpose

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 17:17:21 -0500

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.

Podcast: Mastering Risk Management in High-Hazard Industries

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Podcast ep 52: Game-Based Learning Revolutionizes Process Safety Education in the Chemical Industry

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0500

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

Tipisodes Podcast: Ep 51 9 Tips for Effective Process-Hazard Reviews in Management of Change

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Ep 50 Podcast: Prepare For The Worst

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 00:01:00 -0500

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

Podcast: Piper Alpha Disaster -- 22 Terrifying Minutes, Countless Lessons Learned

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 14:44:31 -0500

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.

Podcast: ICYMI -- Don’t Ignore Weak Signals

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 16:56:31 -0500

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.

Podcast: The Importance of Ethics In Engineering

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 00:01:00 -0500

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.

Podcast: Lessons Learned From The 2013 Williams Olefins Explosion

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 14:10:37 -0500

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.

Episode 45: Fast Facts -- Trevor Kletz and Inherent Safety

Tue, 16 May 2023 17:06:21 -0500

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.

Episode 44: Lessons Learned From 1988 Shell Plant Explosion

Mon, 01 May 2023 11:39:58 -0500

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.

Episode 43: ICYMI: Story Telling Bolsters Process Safety -- What Are Your Shell Middens?

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 13:26:21 -0500

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.

Episode 42: Don’t Dismiss Process Safety Weak Signals — Find Your Platypus

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 14:51:45 -0500

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

Podcast: Examining Ohio Train Derailment; Five-Year Anniversary of ExxonMobil Earthquake Incident

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:23:27 -0500

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

Tactics To Help First Responders During Process Safety Incidents

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 15:09:03 -0500

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.

Podcast: Lessons Learned From 2022 Process-Safety Incidents

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 09:48:08 -0500

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

Podcast: Hone Transferable Skills To Promote Safety

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 13:39:57 -0500

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.

Podcast: Avoid A Hero Complex During Safety Training

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 07:51:40 -0500

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

Podcast: Hydrogen Safety & The Energy Revolution

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 09:50:09 -0500

Unlike the oil industry, we can set the foundation of embedding inherently safer design into how we manage hydrogen going forward.

This can be a heated topic and it can get politicized. We need to make sure we're really applying inherently safer design principles when we pick the concept that we are going with, let alone do the engineering down the track

San Bruno Pipeline Explosion Lessons Learned

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 10:27:11 -0500

Grandfathered standards from the 1950s along with incorrect blueprints led to loss of life and reputation.

Podcast: Unique Program Delivers Safer Workplace

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 13:33:50 -0500

A revolutionary process safety program at a refinery in Blaine, Washington presents challenges in the best ways possible -- by helping operators develop new skills and flex new muscles. It’s always a good day when somewhere in the world a new process-safety champion has been formed.

Deadly Dust -- Lessons Learned From The Didion Milling Explosion

Mon, 30 May 2022 12:23:41 -0500

This episode looks back on the deadly dust explosion that occurred at Didion Milling in Cambria, Wisconsin. On May 31, 2017, the explosion killed five workers and injured 15 others.

In mid-May 2022 a federal grand jury indicted the operator and six management officials on nine criminal counts, including two counts related to willful violations of federal workplace safety standards for grain handling.

Chernobyl Disaster Dangers Then And Now

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 14:31:17 -0500

The war in Ukraine and the anniversary of Chernobyl bring to light lessons learned from the past and unfortunate worries of today.

Podcast: Examining Technology’s Blessings And Burdens

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 11:42:20 -0500

Process safety is impacted by automation, robotics, devices and solutions. Whether the impact is positive or negative remains in the hands of humans who implement the technology.

Deadly Lessons Learned From A Permit-To-Work Failure

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 14:16:21 -0500

What went wrong at the Piper Alpha oil rig has taught us a lot about permit-to-work systems. They are in place to ensure control of the ownership and activities of a particular piece of equipment -- it’s about keeping people safe and also understanding the status of your plant.

How To Make Money And Save Lives Via Process Safety

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 14:36:48 -0500

Good process safety means good reliability … good reliability means good productivity … good productivity is what makes us money. Sometimes you have to talk about the bottom line in order to get buy-in for process-safety initiatives.

Podcast: 2021 Process Safety Incidents Reveal Preventable Patterns

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 12:57:10 -0500

A review of 2021’s process-safety incidents points out that there's nothing new in any of these events; there's no new technology pathway, there's no new chemical reaction or law of chemistry or physics. That means these are all preventable incidents. What are you doing at your facilities to understand these hazards?

How To Avoid Dumb Ways To Die

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 10:57:32 -0500

If you're relying on humans getting it right every time, you're going to have an incident. The key is making sure your systems are more resilient to humans making a mistake

New Tool In Process Hazard Analysis: Delta HAZOP

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 10:37:55 -0500

The chemical industry has been doing risk assessment the same way for quite some time. This new method focuses on subtle changes, which can lead to degradation of design safeguards.

Could Deepwater Horizon Have Been Prevented?

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 09:53:30 -0500

IChemE’s Trish Kerin ponders that $64,000 question as she and Traci Purdum look back at lessons learned from the Montara oil field incident in 2009.

Lessons Learned From Seveso -- One Of the Biggest Manmade Environmental Disasters

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 10:55:01 -0500

Was the Seveso accident, which released dioxin in the air and was named by Time magazine as one of the top manmade environmental disasters, a black swan event? Not likely, according to Trish Kerin, director of the IChemE Safety Centre. On the 45th anniversary of this catastrophic event, we take a look at lessons learned.

Cybersecurity Breach Ripple Effect

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 09:44:40 -0500

A money-grab hack prompted executive orders to get cybersecurity under control at firms supplying the government. Private companies will have to comply even if they aren’t the primary contractor.

The Cost Of Climate Change On Process Safety

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:49:16 -0500

Preparing for the worst is in a facility’s best interest. Indeed, in 2020 there were over 800 natural and man-made disasters that resulted in $4.5 trillion in damages.

This episode of Process Safety with Trish & Traci features Dale Sands, an expert in risk reduction and resiliency.

Lessons Learned From The Fukushima Disaster 10 Years Later

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 17:40:56 -0500

The catastrophic incident at the Fukushima power plant 10 years ago started long before an earthquake and tsunami wiped out power and caused three reactor meltdowns -- the real problem started in 1967 when the plant was built in a tsunami-prone area. The lessons learned from this disaster can save others.

Focus On The Right Process Safety Indicators

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 14:27:50 -0500

Advertising so many days since the last injury can do more harm than good at a facility. The absence of an incident doesn't mean the presence of safety. Focusing on the correct indicators can help you intervene and potentially change the future. In this episode, Trish & Traci prove when the measure becomes a target it ceases to be a good measure.

Importance Of Partnering With First Responders

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 16:50:37 -0500

When disaster strikes, first responders already have a tough job ahead of them. Don’t put them in further danger by failing to effectively communicate what your facility does and what hazardous substances are stored there.

How to apply process safety during the concept-select phase

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 13:44:18 -0500

It starts with the idea of the inherently safer design principle and that involves elimination. You can take out one hazard but are you increasing the presence of other hazards? What's better? What's worse? This is a judgment call that needs to be made on an engineering basis.

This episode reiterates that process safety requires constant vigilance. The challenge is when it works well, nothing goes wrong. People then question if you really need to spend all that money on safety efforts. The reason nothing is going wrong is because you’re doing it right.

Lessons Learned From The Longford Gas Explosion That Killed Two

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 09:33:56 -0500

A heat exchanger, management of change issues and a gap in knowledge led to a catastrophic incident. All of these were preventable mistakes. When will we learn?

How do you ensure your safety message is understood in multiple languages?

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 15:48:44 -0500

In this episode Trish and Traci speak with podcast guest Valerie Stakes, a bilingual safety trainer based in San Diego, California.

The trio conclude companies need to ensure that communications are understandable because process safety doesn't give you second chances.

Catastrophe At The Hands Of Legacy Design Issues

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 16:16:26 -0500

To mark the 15th anniversary of the Mumbai High North Platform disaster, Trish and Traci discussed what happened that day in 2005. This incident started off as a rather mundane issue -- the cook at the site was injured and needed evacuation. A series of unfortunate events, precipitated by weather conditions, led to the deaths of 22 people. All said, 362 people needed to be rescued that day. The major lesson learned: you have to be creative when thinking about what could go wrong.

Transporting Dangerous Cargo Via Train -- Is It The Right Way To Go?

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 16:55:33 -0500

Trains carrying dangerous cargo like crude oil -- is it the right way to go? Applying process safety principles like inherently safer design could prevent derailments, explosions and deaths. In this episode, Trish & Traci examine the recent uptick in crude oil derailments and what could be done to prevent them.

Mistakes Make Good Leaders

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 12:32:25 -0500

In this episode of Process Safety with Trish & Traci, we learn how Trish landed in the role of director of the IChemE Safety Centre. The mishaps and safety incidents she was involved in led to her passion to ensure process-safety standards were practiced all over the world. It's a dream job that began with an aviation fueling accident.

How the Chemical Industry is Adjusting to the New Norm

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 10:13:17 -0500

Having to accommodate social distancing practices along with other precautions to ensure workers are safe is a challenge but not insurmountable. Trish & Traci discuss new ways to do old things

Take Advantage Of Downtime To Ramp Up Process Safety

Thu, 07 May 2020 11:14:07 -0500

You can effectively address your workforce if you factor in how you will interact with the attendees, how you will get their feedback, how you will encourage discussion amongst them.

This episode of Process Safety With Trish & Traci uncovers best practices for presenting and attending safety training virtually.

What have we learned from significant incidents?

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 16:06:32 -0500

This podcast takes a look at major process safety incidents -- West Texas, Deepwater Horizon and others. Trish Kerin, director of IChemE Safety Centre, and Traci Purdum, senior editor with Chemical Processing, discuss what happened and what was learned.

Leading Through A Crisis

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 15:05:51 -0500

This episode of Process Safety With Trish & Traci details tips and tactics to better lead during trying times -- whether it’s a global pandemic or just a time of critical importance. Spoiler: Self-care is important as is a sense of fun.

Operating During A Pandemic and Process Safety Documentation

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 15:44:38 -0500

Having thorough and up-to-date process safety documentation will enable plant personnel and first responders to act quickly. Knowledge is power -- be sure that if something goes wrong you know what to do about it. This episode of Process Safety with Trish & Traci offers sage advice.

Is Inherently Safer Design really safer?

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 11:23:21 -0500

Is inherently safer design really safer? Short answer is yes -- but you have to understand the tradeoffs. In this edition of Process Safety with Trish & Traci we delve into past incidents and lessons learned. We also reveal a fun fact about Trevor Kletz.

Are corporate manslaughter charges too much for safety incidents?

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 16:31:37 -0500

This episode of Process Safety with Trish & Traci discusses the topic of punishment for acts that directly relate to safety incidents. While true accidents happen, there are cases where corporate wrongdoing is the reason for injury or loss of life.

A corroded pipe and decades-old regulations cause catastrophe at Philadelphia Energy Solutions

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 18:57:32 -0500

Today's topic is a news story from earlier this year regarding the fire and explosions and ultimate shuttering of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions oil refinery. The official word from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is that a corroded pipe fitting, found to be half the thickness of a credit card at its thinnest point, led to that incident. The concern is that the pipe, which was installed when Richard Nixon was president -- 1973 -- went all this time without being properly checked.

Cyber Security: It's not if you'll be hacked -- it's when.

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:48:43 -0500

It's not a question of if you will get hacked -- it's a question of when. Traci Purdum, senior digital editor of Chemical Processing, and Trish Kerin, director of IChemE Safety Centre, discuss cyber vulnerabilities and how to stay ahead of the bad actors wanting to stymie your operations.

Is A Hurricane Harvey Hangover the reason for so many safety incidents in Texas?

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 12:56:47 -0500

The aftermath of a hurricane or extreme weather goes well beyond the event itself. Many issues arise that can cause problems months or even years later. How do you prepare for the current weather and mitigate against accidents in the future?

Do regulations make chemical processing plants safer?

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 14:45:06 -0500

Trish Kerin, director of IChemE Safety Center, and Traci Purdum, senior editor at Chemical Processing, discuss process safety regulations. In the end, a safe workspace is a productive workspace and regulations aren't meant to keep you down -- they are meant to keep you safe. The key is making sure regulators are educated enough to help you reach your safety goals.

Educated Workforce Key To Safety In China

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 15:04:55 -0500

In this episode of Process Safety with Trish and Traci we examine recent catastrophic events at chemical plants in China. Trish Kerin, director of the IChemE Safety Center offers compelling insight into what might be causing so many accidents abroad.