Implementing process safety critical roles to reduce risk
Andrew J. Wilson A C and Gerard G. Ransom BA DuPont Sustainable Solutions, Level 4, 225 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
B Woodside Energy Ltd, 240 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: andrew.j.wilson@dupont.com
The APPEA Journal 58(2) 651-654 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ17230
Accepted: 8 March 2018 Published: 28 May 2018
Abstract
In late 2014, Woodside commenced the implementation of the Energy Institute Process Safety Management (PSM) Framework to transform how process safety is managed in the organisation. The framework consists of four focus areas and 20 elements which formed a structure around which a cultural change to a ‘line led, risk based’ approach was made. The transformation focused on four key improvement opportunities: (i) consistent multi-disciplined risk assessments, (ii) efficient management of safety critical devices, (iii) better recognition of excursions beyond integrity limits and (iv) lift and formalise the capability of people to lead and deliver superior process safety performance. The first three focused on tools and methodologies – the PSM ‘system’. The capability workstream considered the people aspect of process safety, so that people understand and are able to execute their role in the overall process safety effort.
This paper discusses the capability workstream in Woodside’s PSM Initiative, the ‘how’ of establishing process safety critical roles and implementing cultural change. It then discusses the demonstrable improvements and reduction in risk that were realised and measured, using lagging indicators (Tier 1 and 2 events) and a suite of leading indicators.
Keywords: Energy Institute, operational discipline, process safety leadership, process safety management.
Andrew Wilson is a Principal Consultant at DuPont Sustainable Solutions. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mech – Hons) from the University of Western Australia, and a Master of Business Administration from the Melbourne Business School. He has over 25 years of experience working in engineering and maintenance roles, and joined DuPont in 2010. |
Gerard Ransom is Asset Manager for the Australia Oil Division of Woodside Energy Ltd, responsible for the operation of three FPSOs off the north-west Australian coast. Gerard holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chem – Hons) from the University of Melbourne. He joined Woodside in 1998 and in that time has worked in a variety of operations, engineering and project roles in both onshore and offshore environments. |
