1st Edition

Process Safety Management Leveraging Networks and Communities of Practice for Continuous Improvement

    244 Pages 29 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    The continued prevalence of major incidents (most recently the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill) and preponderance of workplace fatalities and injuries as well as Process Safety Management (PSM) Incidents, globally, begs the question: why do incidents continue to occur in today’s technologically advanced era? More importantly, with 80-85 percent of incidents being repeated, the more obvious questions are:

    • Why do organizations fail to learn from prior incidents internal to the business?
    • Why do organizations fail to learn from their peers and other same industry players?
    • Why do organizations fail to learn from the incidents and experiences of other industries?

    Process Safety Management: Leveraging Networks and Communities of Practice for Continuous Improvement provides a road map organizations can use to identify and setup critical networks for preventing catastrophic incidents and for sharing knowledge in an organized manner within the organization to enhance business performance. The book helps organizations establish centers of excellence by activating networks for generating best practices and practical solutions to workplace business, and safety challenges.

    The book covers the full range of activation of networks including identifying members, defining goals and objectives, and prioritizing work through leadership and stewardship of networks. It addresses all elements of effective safety management and includes simple, easy-to-follow processes that bring about lasting changes to workplace safety. It also highlights the health and safety needs of both Generation X and Generation Y who currently inherit the workplace but are very different in learning behaviors and experience levels.

    In a thin margins business environment characterized by scarce resources, operational discipline and excellence drives stakeholder confidence and corporate performance. Detailing the practical application of tested principles and practices, this book provides a simple path forward for organizations to recognize the benefits of networks and to proactively establish and support them within organizations to generate continuous and sustained improvement in work practices, procedures, and business performance.

    Process Safety Management (PSM)
    Process Safety Management (PSM)
    Elements of PSM
    References

    Historical Perspective: A Review of Operationally Disciplined and Excellent Organizations Where Process Safety Management Is Entrenched

    Operational Discipline
    Process Safety Management
    History of Process Safety Management
    Operationally Disciplined Organizations
    Conclusion
    References

    Leadership Behaviors for Network Performance, and Operational Discipline and Excellence
    The Role of Leaders
    Leadership Styles and Behaviors: Impact on Safety
    Conclusion
    References

    Shared Learning in Safety
    Essentials for Effective Shared Learnings
    Current State of Generating and Sharing Knowledge
    Challenges of Getting Knowledge to the Frontline
    Maximizing Value from Shared Learning
    Conclusion
    References

    Creating Expert Networks for Generating Continuous Improvements

    Network Requirements
    Network Composition
    How the Network Operates
    Network Design
    Core Teams
    Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
    Extended Group or Community of Practice
    Reference

    Leveraging Networks and Communities of Practice for Long-Term Success
    Networks: A Historical Perspective
    Network Creation: Essential Requirements
    Essential Network Criteria
    Getting Networks Started: Conferences, Training, and Chartering
    Reference

    Activation and Tenure of Networks

    Networks: How They Differ from Other Organizational Structures
    Why Is It Necessary to Formally Activate Networks?
    Why Are Control of Membership and Membership Changes Necessary?
    What Value Is There in Sustaining Network Activities?
    Network Tenure
    Network Membership Changes and Turnover
    Reference

    Network Focus and Work Priorities
    Types of Networks Developed in Organizations
    Network Focus
    Network Charter
    Network Work Plan
    Network Work Prioritization

    Establishing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Stewarding Organizational Performance
    Performance Targets
    Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
    Typical Process Safety Management (PSM)/Management System KPIs Generated by Networks
    Putting the Teeth into KPIs
    Target Setting
    Challenges to KPIs
    Conclusion
    References

    Challenges Faced by Organizations in Managing Networks
    Size of the Network: What Is the Optimal Size of a Network?
    Representation: Should Representation Be Limited to Business Units or Extended to Business Functions and Facilities?
    Right Balance between Face-to-Face Meetings and Virtual Meetings
    Quantifying the Value Created by the Network
    Understanding the Right Balance between Network Responsibilities and Full-Time Duties
    Cost Associated with Travel, Accommodation, and International Commute for Globally Distributed Network Members
    Number of Networks to Be Established
    Managing the Interrelationships between Overlapping Networks

    Network Coordination: The Leadership Challenge
    Role of the Executive Vice President of Health, Safety, Security, and Environment
    Role of the Network Steering Team
    Business Unit Leadership
    Functional Unit Leadership
    Corporate or Central Control of Networks
    Network Communication
    Network Stewardship and Performance Management
    Conclusion

    A Network at Work
    Determining the Need for Network Support
    Developing the Management of Change Network Charter
    Use of Opportunity Matrix to Prioritize Gap Closure Activities
    Communication Plan and Messaging
    Stewardship and Communicating Up the Organizational Chain
    Conclusion

    Conclusion
    Index

    Biography

    Chitram Lutchman, Douglas Evans, Rohanie Maharaj, Ramesh Sharma

    "… very elegantly present the case that formal and informal social and organizational networks, coupled with shared learning about safety from previous incidents as well as experiences within other industries, are the key to preventing safety issues. … the most refreshing treatment of safety management that I have ever encountered … has high value for practitioners, especially senior- and executive-level managers who have responsibility for designing, implementing, and assessing effective safety management approaches."
    —Dr. Nicole Radziwill in ASQ: Quality Management, April 2014