Hazards 27 to focus on process safety application in a variety of industries

Europe’s leading process safety conference comes to Birmingham UK next week, welcoming over 300 process safety specialists from a variety of industries. Organised by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) in association with the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Centre and Conference Partner ABB, Hazards 27 will focus on the crucial topic of process safety competence and continued learning.

This year’s conference will include several high-level keynote presentations from a variety of speakers. Formula 1 Analyst, Mark Gallagher, will open the conference on Wednesday 10 May with the Trevor Kletz memorial lecture, drawing parallels between risk management in the world of motorsport and the process industries.

Other keynote speakers include Unilever’s Process Safety Operations Manager, Malcolm Sarstedt, who will give an account of his experience developing a new approach to process safety in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry. Process Safety Adviser at BASF, Chris Beale, will also provide insight into managing process safety; across BASF’s 40 sites in North West Europe - ranging from high-hazard chemical plants, to low-hazard material recovery sites.

In addition, Shell’s HSSE Downstream Vice President, Sally Martin will discuss process fundamentals, and Marsh Energy’s London Risk Engineering Hub Leader, Jasper Clark will provide a presentation on risk engineering.

The extensive programme includes over 60 talks from experienced engineers, researchers and regulators working in the area of process safety. Notable sessions include Dr Flynn’s analysis of BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill and how the global industry has applied lessons learnt.

There will also be a special IChemE session on the Professional Process Safety Engineer registration; the only globally recognised process safety qualification for engineers, held on Thursday 11 May.

Delivering a talk on bridging the gap between occupational health and safety (OHS) and process safety is Director of the IChemE Safety Centre, Trish Kerin. The talk follows the launch of two new chapters published in the OHS Body of Knowledge, aimed at improving process safety knowledge in the OHS sector.

Kerin said:

“The Hazards 27 conference and extensive programme provides an important reminder to process safety professionals that there are still lessons to be learnt. We should always strive to do things better so we can make better decisions. We are all responsible for our own safety and for the safety of those around us – regardless of role, seniority or job title.”