This year's AIChE Spring Meeting & Global Congress on Process Safety will take place virtually from August 17–21. The meeting gathers experts from the chemical and petrochemical industries. I had a chance to catch up with Dave Moore from AcuTech to talk about the continued development of process safety management. Make sure to attend AcuTech's workshop on Facility Siting Insights, which will take place Thursday, August 20th from 11:00AM–12:00PM Central Daylight Time. You can also stop by AcuTech's booth in the virtual exhibit hall to learn more.
You can register for the meeting here to learn from David and other experts in process safety.
What impact has COVID-19 had on how companies approach process safety?
COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on every aspect of our lives, and process safety is no exception. In the worst case COVID-19 posed disruptions to staffing and operations and caused additional process safety challenges as a result. Since chemical facilities were designated as critical infrastructure in the United States, workers were on the front lines and had to deal with the constraints of operating under strict controls to prevent infection while safely conducting their jobs. This meant changes in policies and procedures to adapt to the threat of the virus.
How do you see process safety best practices developing over the next 3–5 years?
Having been involved in process safety prior to the adoption of regulations and the emergence of PSM as we know it, I am excited to now see a more global adoption rate and interest to achieve excellence in process safety. Best practices are constantly evolving at a faster pace, and I foresee that the PSM industry will be rapidly changing. We now appreciate more so the importance of process safety culture, leadership, metrics, and the adoption of new technologies to improve our performance. I also believe the standards of care of the operators as well as the expectations of regulators and the public will increase dramatically.
How will the continuing adoption of technologies related to industry 4.0 and advanced manufacturing impact process safety?
This is an exciting time to practice process safety. I believe artificial intelligence and machine learning will be adopted and make a considerable impact. We will be more informed for better and faster decision-making on risks through IT technologies, especially in the field. We also should see the further adoption of inherent safety and intensification to processes with an emphasis on environmental and safety performance.
What role does the AIChE Spring Meeting & Global Congress on Process Safety play in the continued development of the process safety community?
AIChE and CCPS have been instrumental in the PSM movement, and the GCPS is a cornerstone of an exchange of ideas, new technologies, and lessons learned. We have followed and assisted CCPS in their global outreach, and the success of that initiative is seen at the GCPS with a truly global audience. We are very pleased to be a sponsor and deeply involved in the efforts of AIChE and CCPS.
Join us at the virtual AIChE Spring Meeting & GCPS on Monday, August 17th!
David Moore
David Moore is the President and CEO of the AcuTech Consulting Group, a process safety, security, and emergency management consulting firm based in McLean, VA.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by AcuTech and reflects their views, opinions, and insights.