Why Smaller Companies Struggle with Process Safety

Author: John Herber, Principal Consultant, Process Hazard Management Services, LLC.

The majority of events investigated by the CSB occur at smaller companies. Some of these companies may not fully recognize the hazards of the processes they operate or may not be aware of regulatory requirements. While these events may not have the visibility of an event at a major location or company, they are devastating to the company, its employees, the community and it customers.

This paper presents a review of the CSB investigation reports of serious process safety incidents and some of the system failures that caused them. It will also propose new systems that could be implemented by larger companies, regulators and industry groups to inform and support smaller companies in their struggle with PSM implementation.