Process Safety Academic Education a Path Forward

Process Safety academic education and research have evolved slowly over the last 3 or 4 decades. University Chemical Engineering Departments began to establish process safety courses in the 1980s. Today the vast majority still do not offer a course and fewer make it a requirement. This paper recounts efforts to provide process safety education at the university level and for young professionals. These efforts include the AIChE SAChE program and the Faculty Workshops provided by industry members of CCPS at their facilities. The actions by the ABET accrediting agency are described. Challenges to increasing and improving education are examined. The current and future role of the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center is explored. Safety concepts need time to be absorbed and put into practice, therefore education early-on is important. Recommendations for initiatives for the next ten years to accelerate progress are made.