The Process Safety Management (PSM) standard in OSHA incident prevention through Best Engineering Practices was initiated worldwide after the worst incident in the history of chemical industry- The Bhopal disaster! The study then navigated to reinforce the significance of organizational culture, management commitment and operational discipline in preventing incidents.
PSM is one area which, by combining the art of managing culture and the science of managing engineering and technology- ensures betterment of employees, community and stakeholders.
Though some practices like HAZOP and QRA (Quantitative Risk Assessment) studies for MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forests) clearance of new chemical plants were initiated in India, a complete systematic PSM has still not found its roots in this country. Yet, some companies have proactively started implementing PSM in their operations.
We had a few major process safety incidents in India, even last year. The Jaipur Tankfarm fire or the NFL fertilizer plant tragedy or the chlorine leak from old cylinders near Mumbai, are all alarming and make us realize that we cannot afford ignoring PSM- anymore!
As an obligation towards our profession, IIChE could be the best forum to spread PSM awareness in India. “PROETCTING PEOPLE” from the hazards of our industries- is as much our duty as sharing knowledge, career guidance and other chemical engineering businesses. This may even mean IIChE considering revising its objectives/ memorandum of operation to suit to the current needs.
Albert Einstein said “The concern for man himself and his safety must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavors. Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations.”
A Chemical Engineer is professionally committed to make a chemical/ reaction/ process work for the benefit of people and prevent it from working against people.
Considering this, we propose to form a PSM Committee of IIChE as a forum of professional bodies to evolve and imbibe a process safety culture in all practicing professionals in industries, academics and renowned institutions etc and eventually upgrade it in India to World Class levels. This will be achieved through the charter which has many plans in addition to the CPSG objectives in 2006.
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