10 Steps to Process Safety Excellence in Oil and Gas – Part 3
Add bookmarkProcess safety management (PSM) is a key concern for companies operating in the oil and gas industry, with new strategies and ways of dealing with challenges offering potential rewards in many areas.
As well as posing an immediate human and environmental risk, safety incidents can have wider repercussions relating to finance, brand reputation, regulations and the sector as a whole.
These are 10 steps companies can take to improve their safety management and minimise risk:
5. There Is No Such Thing As A 'Small' Event
While a relatively small incident may not result in any significant damage or loss for a company, it could have much wider importance in terms of precaution.
Completing a detailed examination of what prompted the event and how it could have been prevented can help organisations to better understand cause-and-effect relationships and reduce the risk of major accidents in future.
6. Distinguish Between Occupational And Process Safety
In an article on the Digital Refining website, Graham Bennett, director of DNV Energy with special responsibility for global refining and petrochemicals activities, stressed the importance of distinguishing between process safety and occupational safety.
He said PSM is much more difficult than managing occupational safety and therefore requires a holistic approach encompassing all areas of the business, from basic health, safety and environment to asset and supply chain management.
