AM-10-114 Practical Steps to Improve Process Safety Culture at Refineries

Description:

Understanding and improving Culture is KEY. Culture is the individual and organizational “DNA” that represents our tendency to want to do (1) the right thing in (2) the right way at (3)the right time, (4) ALL the time – even when if no one is looking. The safety culture that exists in a refinery or company is the result of all the actions - and inactions - in institutional/workforce memory. 1 Many facilities use management systems to help control risks of hazardous processes. These management systems are operated by people – people whose inherent attitudes about safety can affect the choices they make in operating these systems and, thus, the overall safety performance of the facility. This paper presents lessons learned from companies implementing process safety culture improvements involving the following steps: education, planning, workforce involvement, and providing remedies for culture weaknesses.