Process Safety Competency

Process safety implementation requires knowledge and many skills; many of the same skills are necessary to reliable and quality operation, but some are unique to process safety. Competencies needed span process safety engineering and control and process safety management (implementation and overall management). Such competencies are not attained by simply attending courses; mentoring/coaching during practice applications are necessary to attain the knowledge and skill to effectively perform or lead activities related to process safety. And a program is necessary to track the progress of selected staff toward competency in each specific knowledge/skill. This session seeks papers which address key aspects of process safety competencies, including 1) building and certifying competencies in process safety engineering, 2) attaining and demonstrating competencies in implementation of process safety elements such as management of change and mechanical integrity, 3) attaining and demonstrating competencies in skills that are specific to process safety elements such as leading process hazard analyses and writing operating procedures, 4) achieving and keeping enough understanding at the local management and corporate management levels, and 5) managing the competency program (from needs identification through progression of staff towards the needed competency level).