Summary Bullets
Deviations to processes affect public relations
Management transparency promotes trust
Public outreach yields unexpected improvements
Background
A manufacturing plant was struggling with their relationships with the environmental agency and their local community. Process deviations would frequently cause process emissions to spike, leading to significant odors offsite and exceeding the permitted level. The process would also periodically generate significant noise at a decibel level and frequency that was very irritating beyond the fence line.
What Happened
One Earth Day, the plant dutifully held an open house to show off their state-of-the-art facility and show how they had all but eliminated their process and office waste. The neighbors were not as interested in this and their questions quickly turned to the site’s odor and noise. One neighbor asked, “What is happening in the plant when emissions increase?” The technical manager hesitated, and then with encouragement of the plant manager explained that it happened when the gas rate was high. The neighbor then asked the same question about noise. The technical manager explained that it happened when the gas rate was low. Another neighbor then asked, “So if you know why there are the odors and noise, why not avoid those conditions?” The technical manager explained that they were trying to, but it was not a direct correlation and they had not yet figured it out, but they would keep looking for a solution.
The meeting ended amicably, and a few days later, the technical manager received a call from the neighbor saying, “Your gas rate is low.” The technical manager signaled through his office window and the operator turned up the gas. The neighbor, noticing the immediate reduction in noise replied, “Thank you.” Over the following months, with neighbor input, the plant got the gas rate under control and achieved the lowest rate of emissions in the company.
This example shows how the linkage between culture and the Process Safety Management System element of stakeholder outreach. What positive culture attributes did the plant manager exhibit in being open with the community?
The meeting ended amicably, and a few days later, the technical manager received a call from the neighbor saying, “Your gas rate is low.” The technical manager signaled through his office window and the operator turned up the gas. The neighbor, noticing the immediate reduction in noise replied, “Thank you.” Over the following months, with neighbor input, the plant got the gas rate under control and achieved the lowest rate of emissions in the company.
This example shows how the linkage between culture and the Process Safety Management System element of stakeholder outreach. What positive culture attributes did the plant manager exhibit in being open with the community?
Safety Culture Focus
Strong, transparent leadership promotes trust and opportunity for improvements.
An open, questioning environment with the public enhanced process safety.
Continuous improvement can come from unexpected places.
Safety Culture Focus Note
**Only 37% of those surveyed indicated management involvement was a strength in their organization.**
Source File
E.31.pptx
(326.21 KB)