Process Safety Management
April 2–3, 2025
Join safety and health leaders representing the best of their industries for the only process safety management education and networking event created for top-performing companies. Across nine sessions led by experienced PSM professionals representing multiple industries, we’ll take a deep dive into the latest trends, challenges, and innovations to help you take your program to the next level.
The PSM Summit is a one-of-a-kind event, designed to maximize learning and networking for attendees, while minimizing time away from the site. Attendees can expect a collaborative learning environment, where their questions and real-world experiences drive the conversation in each presentation. Between sessions, connect with your peers and share your own best practices, pain points, and insights into PSM application.
The Process Safety Management Summit will be held April 2-3 on the campus of the Health and Safety Council outside of Houston, TX. All registered attendees are invited to attend the Health and Safety Council’s annual Crawfish Boil immediately following the event!
Summit Agenda*
Wednesday, April 2
- 8:30am–8:45am Opening Remarks
- 8:45am–9:45am Mechanical Integrity Management System
10:00am–11:00am Pressure Relief Systems Part 1: Overpressure Protection 101
Speaker Bio
Rob Walker, Senior HSE Manager, Honeywell
I have spent 36 years in the petrochemical industry working at myriad companies. Most of my career has been spent focusing on process safety management with an emphasis on process safety information and mechanical integrity.
- Previously Presented: VPPPA PSM Summit 2023 & 2024, VPPPA Safety+ 2024, IAPC 2024
Session Information
Relief systems are extremely important to petrochemical plants and refineries. They are your last line of defense to prevent a catastrophic overpressure situation. Consequently, they must be designed properly. This session will be team led by two industry experts, Rob Walker & Nathan Obaugh.
Learning Objectives:
- Importance of Relief Systems
- What Happens if they are not properly sized
- Examination of case scenarios
Target Audience:
- Experience with PSM
- Engineer
- Safety, Health and Environmental Professional
- Maintenance
11:15am–12:15pm Process Safety: It is Not Just for Chemical Plants & Refineries!
Speaker Bio
Rich Sarnie, Senior Safety Executive, United Alliance Services Corporation
Rich is a Safety & Risk Professional with over 30 years of industrial experience.
- Board Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
- Licensed Professional Safety Engineer (P.E.)
- Associate in Risk Management (ARM)
- Authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer in Construction & General Industry
- Certified by American Institute of Chemical Engineers as a Chemical Process Safety Professional (CCPSC)
- Previously Presented: ASSP Local and National. NSC National and Local. RIMS National and Local.
Session Information
This will discuss lessons learned and relearned over decades in non-chemical manufacturing and cold storage facilities on preventing and mitigating process safety incidents and how these lessons learned can and should be applied across many types of manufacturing and cold storage operations such as the food, beverage, fertilizer, power/electric generation/transmission, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry.
- Present a rationale as to why a risk-based rather than regulatory-based approach to managing process safety and other risk exposures is prudent
- Discuss the continuing movement by many organizations to more formal and comprehensive enterprise risk management systems
- Provide an overview of chemical industry best practices for managing process safety (with a focus on AIChE CCPS recommendations as described in the CCPS Guidelines for Risk Based Process Safety and many other CCPS books)
- Discuss how proven process safety management practices and use of multiple layers of protection can help better manage risks in manufacturing and cold storage facilities.
Learning Objectives:
- Present a rationale as to why a risk-based rather than regulatory-based approach to managing process safety and other risk exposures is prudent
- Discuss the continuing movement by many organizations to more formal and comprehensive enterprise risk management systems
- Provide an overview of chemical industry best practices for managing process safety (with a focus on AIChE CCPS recommendations as described in the CCPS Guidelines for Risk Based Process Safety and many other CCPS books)
- Discuss how proven process safety management practices and use of multiple layers of protection can help better manage risks in manufacturing and cold storage facilities.
Target Audience:
- New to PSM
- Experience with PSM
- PSM Coordinator/ Manager
- Engineer
- Safety, Health and Environmental Professional
- Maintenance
1:15pm–2:15pm An Introduction to the Chemical Safety Board
Speaker Bio
Adam Henson, Chemical Safety Recommendations Specialist, U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
Adam Henson is a Chemical Safety Recommendations Specialist at the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB). He has over 15 years of experience in chemical safety and security. Adam was a Nuclear Biological Chemical Defense Specialist while serving in the United States Marine Corps during which time he deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was also an OSHA Compliance Officer specializing in process safety management, combustible dust hazards, and HAZWOPER prior to starting with the CSB. Adam is a Certified Safety Professional (BCSP) and a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (NFPA).
- Previously Presented: In the last year I have presented at the: American Institute of Chemical Engineers – Spring 2024 DIERS Meeting, American Petroleum Institute/American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers – Operating Practices Symposium, American Society of Safety Professionals – Safety 2024, National Fire Protection Association – Conference and Expo, National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors – General Meeting, and United Steel Workers – Health, Safety, & Environment Conference.
Session Information
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is an independent agency of the federal government charged with investigating industrial chemical incidents. In general, the CSB investigates incidents that result in a fatality, serious injury, or substantial property damage. The agency conducts root cause investigations of these incidents so that they may be understood with the goal of preventing similar future incidents or mitigating their consequences. In the CSB’s over 25-year history nearly 200 catastrophic incidents have been investigated resulting in 1,000 recommendations. In nearly every investigation, deficiencies in the facility’s safety and health management system are identified as a root cause. A lack of effective worksite hazard analysis and/or hazard prevention and control are common to these incidents. Ineffective management leadership and worker participation including contractors have also been noted. This presentation will describe the work of the CSB as it pertains to improving safety and health outcomes in a range of facilities. There will be a discussion of the recommendations issued to OSHA by the CSB. As well as case studies based on the CSB’s investigations including the Husky Energy Superior Refinery Explosion and Fire, Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) Tank Fire, and others, time permitting. The presentation will focus on major incident prevention.
Learning Objectives:
- TLO – By the end of this presentation participants will understand how the work of the CSB effects occupational safety and health.
- ELO 1 – Participants will understand the purpose and function of the CSB.
- ELO 2 – Participants will understand the nature and purpose of the recommendations the CSB has issued to OSHA.
- ELO 3 – Participants will participate in case studies on at least two CSB investigations. They will be asked to contribute their expertise in determining the root causes of these incidents within the framework of an effective safety and health management system.
Target Audience:
- New to PSM
- Experience with PSM
- PSM Coordinator/ Manager
- Engineer
- Safety, Health and Environmental Professional
- Maintenance
- Operations
- Resident Contractor
- Special Government Employee (SGE)
- 2:30pm–3:30pm Risk Based Inspections
3:45pm–4:15pm Does Management of Change Apply to People and Organizations Too?
Speaker Bio
David Drerup, Operational Sustainability, LLC
- Has worked with nearly numerous clients with EH&S, Process Safety, Asset Performance Management (APM), and Operational Excellence (OE) solutions
- David has held leadership positions in companies including PwC, Rolls-Royce, and SAIC. CEO of Operational Sustainability, LLC
- Contributed to the 2007 Guidelines for Management of Change for Process Safety Book by CCPS – Active in API, AFPM, AIChE, TCC, and GPSA
- Adjunct Faculty and Founder
- The Operational Excellence Consortium (www.my-OpEx.org)
- Previously Presented: P2SAC – Purdue Process Safety Symposium
Session Information
Most companies focus on Facility and Technology change with the intent to meet regulatory compliance (i.e., Process Safety, SEMS). Personnel and organizational change is the third aspect of MOC (“also known as MOOC”) that needs to be addressed yet less than 5% of companies have formalized Management of Organizational Change (MOOC).
The average tenure of the workforce today is less than 3 years, and 2 years for plant managers. Enter the crisis for human capital. And most companies are focused on a compliant workforce, which means “training” is the outcome, not “competency” or real risk management and reduction.
Without effective work processes, people, and organizational changes such as transfers, promotions, resignations, mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, staffing changes, or budget revisions can impact management systems at the plant level. Management Of Organizational Change (MOOC) is your path forward to address compliance needs, manage and reduce process risks, and achieve Operational Excellence. This presentation will explore how to develop an effective MOOC Program (including digitization) leading to better outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
- Key Supporting processes for MOOC
- MOOC Trigger Points
- Sample MOOC standards (Policies and Procedures)
- What are the Barriers to formalizing MOOC and digitizing
- Organizational Structure Change Risk Assessment and Mitigation Planning
Target Audience:
- New to PSM
- Experience with PSM
- PSM Coordinator/ Manager
- Engineer
- Safety, Health and Environmental Professional
- Operations
Thursday, April 3
8:30 am–9:30 am Understanding Human Reliability Analysis (HRA): Concepts, Applications, and Case Study in High-Risk Industries
Speaker Bio
Ashley Craig, Principal Engineer: Human Factors and Process Safety, PSRG Inc.
Mrs. Ashley Craig, Principal Human Factors and Process Safety Engineer at PSRG, received her B.S. in Communication Theory and Kinesiology from Sam Houston State University and her M.Sc. with Distinction in Human Factors Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Her experience encompasses turn-key human factors program drafting and implementation, technical material reviews, iterative standard revision, Human Reliability Analysis (HRA), Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA), and Hazard Analysis expertise. During her time at NASA she was part of the Gateway team as a human factors engineering subject matter expert for government and commercial, domestic and international partners. Ashley has dual citizenship with United States and Australia and supports projects worldwide.
Session Information
“Understanding Human Reliability Analysis (HRA): Concepts, Applications, and Case Study in High-Risk Industries” will provide a comprehensive overview of the Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) framework and its critical applications in high-risk industries. This session, presented by Ashley Craig, MSc, Process Safety and Human Factors Principal Engineer at PSRG, leverages her extensive experience in Human System Integration, Hazard Analysis, and Human Error Analysis to illustrate how HRA methods support proactive risk management. Attendees will explore HRA fundamentals, including performance shaping factors and commonly used analytical techniques within HRA. Through a practical case study, participants will gain insights into conducting task analyses, identifying potential human errors, and applying error reduction strategies within high-risk operational contexts. This session is tailored for safety professionals, engineers, and reliability specialists seeking to deepen their understanding of HRA as a vital component of safety-critical operations.
Learning Objectives:
- Define and understand key concepts in Human Reliability Analysis (HRA), including human error types, performance shaping factors, and error probability.
- Identify and analyze the primary components of HRA, such as task analysis and human error analysis, and apply these to real-world safety-critical environments.
- Explore the process of assessing potential human errors within operational tasks and determining factors that increase failure likelihood in high-risk industries.
- Develop skills in implementing control strategies and recovery mechanisms to reduce human error risks and enhance reliability in safety-critical operations.
- Gain practical insights through case studies, understanding how HRA can be integrated into existing risk management frameworks to support proactive safety initiatives.
Target Audience:
- New to PSM
- Experience with PSM
- PSM Coordinator/ Manager
- Engineer
- Safety, Health and Environmental Professional
- Maintenance
- Operations
- Resident Contractor
- Special Government Employee (SGE)
- Other – (This content applies industry wide and all relative audiences listed could benefit)
9:45am–10:45am Pressure Relief Systems Part 2: Fire Case Deep Dive
Speaker Bio
Rob Walker, Senior HSE Manager, Honeywell
I have spent 36 years in the petrochemical industry working at myriad companies. Most of my career has been spent focusing on process safety management with an emphasis on process safety information and mechanical integrity.
- Previously Presented: VPPPA PSM Summit 2023 & 2024, VPPPA Safety+ 2024, IAPC 2024
Session Information
Relief systems are extremely important to petrochemical plants and refineries. They are your last line of defense to prevent a catastrophic overpressure situation. Consequently, they must be designed properly. This session will be team led by two industry experts, Rob Walker & Nathan Obaugh.
Learning Objectives:
- Importance of Relief Systems
- What Happens if they are not properly sized
- Examination of case scenarios
Target Audience:
- Experience with PSM
- Engineer
- Safety, Health and Environmental Professional
- Maintenance
- 11:00 am–12:00 pm PSM Supplement B
- 1:05 pm–3:30 pm HASC Safety Day
- 4:00 pm Crawfish Boil
*Subject to change
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