SVO 180014: Guide to Process Safety Management Approach Brzo SME

Chemical process installations are subject to Brzo-security requirements. SMEs in the chemical industry often lack the manpower or professional support to meet these requirements. Consequently, the development and implementation of a complete safety approach, also referred to as a Process Safety Management System, does not always get off the ground.

The Association of the Dutch Chemical Industry (VNCI) has therefore developed a practical guide to the Process Safety Management Approach (PSMA) for SME Brzo companies. This can be used to further strengthen environmental safety by focusing on:

  • "mindware" (safety culture, safety behaviour and engaged leadership),
  • "software" (management systems, procedures and organisation) and
  • "Hardware" (integrity of process installations).

The approach is in line with the cycle of planning, execution, control and adjustment. Specific points of attention are the correctness, completeness, clarity, measurability and effectiveness of the procedures within the safety management system.

class="img-responsive

For more information:

see website

VNCI

Purpose

Developing and implementing a structural approach to process safety in SME Brzo companies.

Application of the PSMA guide improves the audit process including management review. This overall strengthening of the safety management system will lead to improved safety performance of the SME chemical companies.

A consistent Process Safety Management approach offers the supervisory authority the possibility of carrying out a better and more unambiguous inspection of the Brzo requirements. This contributes to the new inspection methodology Landelijke Benadering Risicobedrijven (National Approach to Risk Companies) of the Brzo inspectorates.

Expected / obtained result

The project consists of a number of steps, including:

  • Developing the Process Safety Management Approach;
  • Testing approaches through SME pilots and adjusting them where necessary;
  • Making the guide available to VNCI members, participants in Veiligheid Voorop and other relevant platforms such as the Regional Safety Networks.

In developing the guide, use was made of existing knowledge. This concerns knowledge at VNCI Brzo companies and pilot companies which act as support ("buddy") for the other VNCI SME Brzo companies.

The PSMA manual is an extra-legal supplement to the Brzo requirements. This PSMA approach is also extra-legal for the 'almost' Brzo companies.

The Guide to the Process Safety Management Approach (PSMA) was published in December 2020 by VNCI.

Information SDN Knowledge Centre

Knowledge base: handbook PSMA.

class="img-responsive
Project code SVO 180014
Committed grant € 52.200
Status Completed
Project period October 2018 - September 2020
Partnership Sector partnership
Project type Process and organisational innovation (A)
Project themes Safety culture
Penholder Association of the Dutch Chemical Industry (VNCI)
Project participants Sachem Europe B.V.
Organik Kimya Netherlands B.V.
Chemcom Industries B.V.
Dr. W. Kolb Netherlands B.V.
Kisuma Chemicals B.V.