(53c) Maintaining a Healthy Safety Culture

The Chemical Industry of today is very different from thirty years ago. Technology has enabled safer designs; regulators have established Process Safety Management standards; and best practices in the area of safety are routinely shared between companies. If you were to visit a facility of any of the major producers today you would find very similar safety procedures and practices. From hazardous work permitting and process change management, to behavioral safety observations and incident reporting; the basic safety systems are there. Why is it then, when a tragic event occurs it always appears to be the unlikely confluence of multiple failures? Having safer designs, proper procedures, and multiple layers of protection is not enough. Safety must be seen and expressed as a cultural value. This presentation will explore the part culture plays in designing and operating our facilities safely.