2025 Spring Meeting and 21st Global Congress on Process Safety
(32cn) Enhancing Virtual PHA Communication: Applying Motivational Interviewing Techniques to Improve Hazard Identification in Remote HAZOP Sessions
As the industry increasingly adopts virtual PHA sessions, efficiency gains are evident. However, questions arise around the quality of communication in these settings: Does the lack of in-person body language and face-to-face interaction compromise hazard identification? Can facilitators adapt by integrating proven interviewing techniques, drawing from motivational interviewing practices in the medical field, to foster open, effective dialogue in virtual sessions? This paper explores these questions, presenting data-driven insights and evidence-based conversational techniques designed to enhance facilitator-participant communication. Findings suggest whether participants express concerns more openly in virtual versus in-person HAZOPs and outline strategies for effective facilitation in digital environments.