(88b) Real Process Safety Culture

Process Safety Culture (PSC) has received considerable attention recently because of the advent of Risk-Based Process Safety (RBPS) of which PSC is the first element listed. But what does PSC mean and how can PSC be improved?

• Many implementers see PSC as an intangible attribute of a company or site.
• Some workers see PSC as ‘code words” for management not wanting to take responsibility for process safety management.
• Others see PSC as something that can be affected directly by the actions of management or by an active program targeted directly at the site culture.

This paper shows what effects the true “culture” at a site. It explains that PSC is a reflection of senior management / executives, and local management. And it shows that tangible, real, activities within a site are what makes PS culture a reality. The paper also reviews the approaches to directly and indirectly measure process safety culture... and shows that PS Surveys are Not the way to measure PS Culture.