Peter Herena
Chemical Engineer with 15 years of experience in controls, software and safety systems. Presently employed by Baker Engineering & Risk Consultants, specialists in blast effects analysis, blast scenario modeling, process safety and reliability engineering. Experience includes 3 years with Kenexis Consulting, an engineered safeguard consulting company, and 10 years at UOP, a petrochemical technology licenser.
Skilled at marketing, communication and customer relations. Trained in conflict resolution with extensive experience in meeting facilitation. Trusted to successfully resolve sensitive and high-profile assignments for critical customers.
Deep experience in process, controls, software and instrumentation. Mastery in all phases of SIS safety lifecycle as applied to process industries. Broad knowledge of hazards associated with numerous process sectors, as well as risk analysis techniques.
Demonstrated organizational leadership at every career level, with a focus on developing best practices and streamlining work processes. Supported AIChE and ISA in technical and leadership capacities at local level.
Specialties: Safety Instrumented System Engineering
Process Hazards Analysis (PHA) / Hazard Identification
SIL Selection
SIL Verification
Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA)
Fault Tree Analysis
Event Tree Analysis
What-If Analysis
Root Cause Analysis
Hazard and Operability (HazOp) Facilitation
Process Safety Management (PSM)
PSM Auditing
Control System Design and Field Commissioning
Software Development
Process Troubleshooting
Chemical Engineering
ChEnected contributions
What Grandfather Clause Never Told Me
So how exactly does one appropriately invoke the Grandfather Clause? It's an option that's easily abused—and sometimes severely so. Read more about what it's purpose is, how safety system engineers can use it properly, and avoid abusing it to the detriment of plant safety.
Live From AIChE Spring Meeting – Local Section Leadership and Networking
Who said the Spring Meeting starts Monday? For many it started Sunday by attending the various leadership and training sessions going on at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. I was fortunate to attend a very interesting networking and leadership forum sponsored by the AIChE Chicago local section. The purpose was for leaders from other sections to gather and discuss best practices and share experiences. The talk was fast and furious, but I jotted down a few interesting tidbits. I hope you’ll think about them and comment on what your section does for best practices!
The Peltzman Effect: Don’t Get Run Over
The Peltzman Effect is the name for the paradoxical result that rules and regulations meant to create a safer environment can lead to more risky behavior, which offsets the beneficial impact of the original regulation. From incautious drivers to inattentive employees, it can impact all our lives—and sometimes seriously.
The Principle of Fail-Safe
Recently, I had the occasion to ponder the principle of fail-safe while whirling around at breakneck speeds 20 feet off the ground. Since nothing works perfectly forever—including terrifying carnival rides—it's reassuring to know that the principle of fail-safe takes this simple fact of life into account.