(184d) Management of New Project Hse Design

A large fraction of new plant construction is being done, on a lump sum basis by Engineering Procurement & Construction (EPC) Contractors. In such an environment it is important that: (i) there are no (apparent or hidden) conflicts of interest, (ii) decisions are made based on established performance criteria, (iii) HSE related activities are conducted at the appropriate phase in the project timeline. These criteria imply that HSE cost-benefit criteria must be explicitly specified and that the funding mechanism should recognize that the bulk of the cost of HSE related improvements must be borne by the parties that realize the bulk of the benefits. Further, as with any engineering changes, HSE related changes, if they are proposed too late in the project life, can become prohibitively expensive.

The main thrust of this paper is that, to avoid festering problems, HSE related activities must be funded and managed with the same attention that other more glamorous aspects of the project receive. This paper will present hypothetical case studies derived from real experience, and suggest approaches that could significantly enhance the HSE aspects of plant design.