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    The chemical industry long has been concerned about the safety of its operations and the risks both within the plant gate and beyond. Dealing with safety issues can involve sophisticated techniques for hazard analysis and prescriptive measures for plant design and operation. It also can involve rethinking a process to make it inherently safer. It demands an understanding of tradeoffs and nuances.

    Articles

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    PHA evolution
    Despite decades of hazard analysis evolution, dangerous gaps persist in Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) practices.
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    Hand pushing scale out of balance
    Is it time to rethink notification requirements to rebuild America's chemical industry?
    Podcast: Challenge the Illusion of Safety
    Chemical facilities miss critical safety insights by investigating the wrong incidents with the wrong questions. Learn from research that analyzed over 10,000 incidents across...
    Quiz that tests knowledge of process safety incidents
    Understanding what caused catastrophes will help mitigate future safety events. Test your knowledge.

    News

    Braskem
    Braskem Maceio
    Jonathan Katz
    July 2, 2025
    Residents of Maceió are seeking to hold the petrochemical giant's European operations liable for profiting from mining activities that caused neighborhood subsidence.
    CSB
    CSB video still
    Amanda Joshi
    June 24, 2025
    The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is investigating two toxic gas releases at Austin Powder sites, while a new video emphasizes the financial and operational...
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    Homepage of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents.
    Jonathan Katz
    June 11, 2025
    Industry experts warn that eliminating the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board would remove a crucial tool for preventing plant disasters, despite the agency's modest...
    U.S. Chemical Safety Board
    CSB Optima Bell Safety Video
    Amanda Joshi
    May 28, 2025
    CSB urges stronger regulations after a 2020 chemical explosion at a West Virginia toll facility killed one and caused over $33 million in damage.

    Shutterstock
    controls in chemical plant
    Transient operations occur when transitioning between operating states and are often the most hazardous periods in a chemical facility.
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    Process Safety: It's Not Impossible That It's Possible
    Our tendency to underestimate the likelihood of rare occurrences can lead us to dismiss the possibility of process safety incidents.
    workers in an industrial plant for the production and processing of crude oil
    Discover how unplanned shutdowns can facilitate proof testing of safety instrumented functions, improving safety protocols and minimizing downtime.
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    Podcast: Lessons Learned from Boeing’s 737 MAX Crisis
    Traci Purdum
    March 5, 2024
    Boeing was known for its engineering excellence until a focus on profitability took over. Properly documenting management of change and recognizing weak signals could have prevented...