The process industries have the utmost regard for the highest standards in health and safety. However, official reports into process safety accidents and incidents have highlighted time and time again the need to continuously improve safety culture; by starting at the top.

Our research shows that there are understandably gaps in the understanding of process safety management at the most senior levels in industry - for example Finance Directors, CEOs and Board members. Yet it is widely acknowledged that highly effective risk control extends to much more than developing new controls and technical solutions. Clear and positive safety leadership is at the core of managing a major hazard business and board level visibility and promotion is essential.

That's why the National Skills Academy for Process Industries and Cogent SSC, with the support and expert guidance of a Process Safety Board embarked on a project to address the issue within the high risk process industries, beginning with Process Safety Leadership for Senior Executives, a course that would see high level involvement from senior managers and board members.

Philip Jones, Skills Academy CEO says,"effective process safety management works best if it is taking place at all levels within the business and to achieve that you need buy-in at the top table. The Process Safety Leadership for Senior Executives course is highly practical and commits employers to developing and supporting a PSM action plan for the future."

Philip continues,"completing the action plan is an incredibly important part of the training, we will work with the businesses involved to support them in delivering on their actions. We haven't developed a course that's over and done with at the end of the training day. This course will impact on how the entire business is run."

Twelve months ago the Skills Academy and Cogent formed the Process Safety Board including: the Chemical Industries Association (CIA), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Unite theUnion, the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) and the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). In the time that has passed, the first training standard for Process Safety Leadership has been developed and rigorously tested and four training providers have had their delivery quality assured against the training standard.  

Today a number of businesses have successfully completed theirProcess Safety Leadership for Senior Executivescourse and are now working on their action plan, which will see them move up a gear in process safety.  

One of the first businesses to undertake the training was Pentagon Chemicals Ltd, Allan Laing, Chief Executive Officer says,"we are very focussed on PSM in Pentagon so it was always going to be a challenge for Process Industry Consulting [the training provider] to take us to a higher level of understanding… feedback can be summarised in one word - excellent.Missionaccomplished. Indeed and Pentagon is now working on our PSM Improvement Plans for 2012."

Daren Smith, SABIC UK Petrochemicals EHS Director added, "SABIC UK Petrochemicals Limited has been at the forefront of Process Safety Management for a number of years, investing time, energy and resources to address this vital area of manufacturing excellence within the Chemical Industry. The opportunity to engage with a Process Safety Leadership course, which firstly reinforces the necessity for this level of commitment and secondly reinvigorates and challenges the established practises and operational norms, was both timely and extremely effective. The one day Process Safety Leadership course provided an excellent platform to engage with our Senior Leadership Team and develop common understanding of the subject. As a result of this engagement we have produced a set of short and medium term Process Safety improvement initiatives for our Teesside Site facilities."