(58a) Process Safety Progress in China

Looking back to 2024, China has made significant progress and achievements in the field of PSM (Process Safety Management). During the year, the Chinese government, universities and enterprises not only strengthened internal communication and collaboration but also promoted the implementation of several key projects, laying a solid foundation for the safe production and sustainable development of China's chemical enterprises.

1. 1. Main Conference Organisation

PSM Best Practice Conference

In FY2024, China University of Petroleum (East China) and China Occupational Health Association (COHA) successfully organised the 2nd China International (Hangzhou) Best Practices Conference on Process Safety Management (PSM) in Chemical Industry, inviting renowned experts, scholars, and representatives of enterprises in the industry to discuss and share the advanced concepts and practical experiences in the field of PSM. During the conference, participants exchanged in-depth views on the important role of PSM in improving the safety management level of enterprises and formed a number of valuable suggestions and measures. Through this conference, the safety leaders of the enterprises further broadened their horizons and enhanced their communication and cooperation with their counterparts.

Chemical Safety Talent Cultivation Conference

In order to strengthen the cultivation and reserve of chemical safety talents, China University of Petroleum (East China) organised a conference on chemical safety talents cultivation. This seminar gathered a total of more than 60 industry experts, as well as scholars from colleges and universities and technical backbones of enterprises to discuss and exchange experiences in chemical safety talents cultivation, good practices in the construction of advanced training courses for chemical safety composite talents, and optimisation of the chemical safety talents cultivation system under the background of artificial intelligence. Optimisation and other contents, the purpose is to explore and develop a set of scientific and systematic chemical safety talent cultivation program, and effectively promote China's chemical safety talent cultivation work. The conference established the objectives, contents, methods and assessment system of chemical safety talents training, which provides strong support for China's chemical industry to cultivate more high-end chemical safety talents with international vision, professionalism and innovation ability.

2. PSM management elements are integrated into production safety standardisation

In FY2024, China Occupational Health Association (COHA) and the Centre for Safety, Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation (CSEE) of China University of Petroleum (East China) actively promoted the integration of PSM management elements into production safety standardisation, aiming to improve the level of chemical process safety management through production safety standardisation grading. Through long-term in-depth research and practical exploration, the team of China Occupational Health Association and China University of Petroleum (East China) has combined PSM management elements with production safety standardisation to form a set of chemical process safety management elements system with Chinese characteristics, whose scientificity and completeness have been widely recognised by the industry. The system not only improves the safety management level of enterprises, but also effectively reduces the probability of production safety accidents.

3.Initiate the translation programme of relevant PSM books

In order to introduce and learn from international advanced PSM concepts and technologies, China University of Petroleum (East China) has launched a translation plan for books related to CCPS (Center for Chemical Process Safety). Through the joint efforts and collaboration of the team members, we have made a stage-by-stage translation plan and completed part of the translation work. The next step is to start the translation work around Guidelines for Process Safety Documentation. These translations provide important references for PSM work in Chinese enterprises.

4.Optimisation of Guidelines for Process Safety Documentation in Shandong Province

In response to the pilot assessment and audit of Process Safety Management (PSM) led by the Shandong Provincial Department of Emergency Management, Qingdao OSAS team actively participated and optimised the relevant guidance documents with the aim of improving the standardisation and effectiveness of the assessment work. By cooperating with the provincial department's inspection, the existing guidance documents were revised and improved to make them more in line with the actual situation in Shandong Province and the needs of the enterprises, which not only improved the quality of the assessment work, but also provided clearer and more specific guidance for the PSM work of the enterprises.

The Office of Qingdao Municipal Work Safety Commission issued the ‘Implementation Plan for the Normalisation of Chemical Classification and Supervision and the Continuous Implementation of Chemical Process Safety Management Work’, which aims to normalise the promotion of chemical production safety classification and supervision of chemical enterprises, to push forward the implementation of the Guidelines for Chemical Process Safety Management (AQ/T 3034-2022), to supervise enterprises to improve the level of their chemical process safety management capability, to perfect the production safety management system, and prevent production safety accidents.

5. 5. Chemical Process Safety Management Committee

2024 The Chemical Process Safety Management Committee will hold a seminar on improving the service level of chemical process safety management in Huizhou, formulate the service workbook of each management element, and improve the quality of guidance services. Optimise the organisation and strengthen the expert team. Determine the work plan for the next year.

Looking back at the past year, China has made remarkable progress and achievements in the field of PSM. However, we are also soberly aware that PSM work still faces many challenges and opportunities. In the future work, Chinese industries will continue to strengthen internal communication and collaboration, deepen the application and practice of PSM concepts, and continuously improve the PSM level of enterprises. At the same time, the team will also pay active attention to industry dynamics and technology development trends, and continue to introduce and learn from international advanced PSM concepts and technologies, so as to contribute to the sustainable development of the industry.