(41ar) Use of Podcasts to Leverage Process Safety Knowledge and Culture

Process Safety Management (PSM) has long been an international effort. Fires and explosions don’t respect international boundaries, let alone plant fencelines. Collaboration on PSM activities involving personnel from diverse countries, with different languages, cultures, and time zones has long been the norm. How do we improve the efficiency of these efforts?

AcuTech Consulting Group, based in Vienna, Virginia, USA, and the SOCAR Refinery and Petrochemical Business Unit in AliaÄŸa, Turkey, have been working together to improve PSM at the SOCAR sites beginning in 2018 (pre-Covid-19) and continuing through the remote work periods of 2020 and 2021 to the present day. This paper will review the methods and mechanisms developed to deal with issues of language, time zones, and culture with a focus on PSM training and conducting HAZOP/LOPA.

Language

Various PSM training classes have been developed – PSM basics, PSM culture, operational discipline, incident investigation, etc. Presentations and slide-by-slide narrations are developed in English and translated into Turkish by a third-party translation company. Live remote classes are taught using simultaneous translation over Zoom – instructors deliver their lectures in English, while looking at the English PowerPoints, the attendees see the Turkish presentations and listen to the interpreter in real time.

HAZOP/LOPA is typically conducted in English as all engineers in Turkey have a good grasp of English. Participants often discuss issues in Turkish and translate English to Turkish for operators which require additional time allowances to ensure all participants understand the hazards of concern.

HAZOP/LOPA can also be conducted with simultaneous translation. This is only feasible with in person meetings. Other options, including dual scribing in English and the local language, will also be discussed.

Time Zones

Turkey is 7 (Daylight Savings Time) or 8 (Standard Time) hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone. Thus, all-day HAZOP and/or training sessions may start around 2 am or even earlier for US-based personnel. We will discuss some coping mechanisms for drastic time differences such as afternoon only HAZOP sessions.

Culture

Understanding the local regulatory framework is an important consideration. While PSM basics are very consistent around the world, local requirements should be recognized and taken into account.

Understanding and appreciating the local culture greatly improves the enjoyment and success of collaborative PSM efforts. Greetings and thankyous in the local language are appreciated and fun to learn. Group events, such as dinners or attending football/soccer matches are important activities. We believe the lives of everyone involved in the extended community created by these projects are enriched through our shared experiences.