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COMAH Uncovered

Revealing the part human factors plays in safety of hazardous installations

About this event

The Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations apply to the prevention and mitigation of the effects on people and the environment of major accidents involving dangerous substances. The Regulations recognise and stipulate that in order to optimise operations and safety at a hazardous installation, it's essential that human factors is integrated into its design, construction and operation. Our three presenters will explain more.

In this webinar, Andy Brazier introduces the BP Texas City case study which will be used as illustration. You'll learn about process safety tools coverage of human factors and then explore the application of the Hierarchy of Risk Controls (which ones failed at Texas City). You'll also find out about how to integrate human factors into process safety and the Hierarchy of Controls.

Kayley Clusker looks at common misconceptions in operator error vs human error, then discuss Human Factors Integration in design before revealing which human factors tools are most relevant.

Lorraine Braben explores human factors in COMAH Safety Reports, before giving a run down of the HSE’s Human Factors Top 10. Then you'll find out how the Top 10 could have changed the events at Texas City.

Who will this be of interest to?

This webinar will be of interest to anyone who has duties under the COMAH Regulations 2015, particularly operators of establishments, together with human factors specialists tasked with identifying and addressing human factors issues at COMAH sites.

Please note that the presenters will be using the BP Texas City refinery explosion as a case study for context, so you might benefit from watching the 11-minute 15th anniversary video about the disaster beforehand. Watch it now

About the presenters

Julie Avery (Chair) worked at GSK as a Global Quality Director responsible for quality systems and policies including Deviation Management, Root Cause analysis, training, inspection readiness and human factors ensuring regulatory compliance and performance. Her work included integrating with safety performance at COMAH sites. Julie's background is in quality in pharmaceutical manufacturing and cosmetics manufacturing and regulations. She's a Trustee of the CIEHF and now works as an independent consultant for human performance and business improvement.
 
Andy Brazier runs AB Risk Ltd, a CIEHF Registered Consultancy. He has a degree in Chemical Engineering and a PhD. He's worked as a human factors consultant since 1996, mainly in the oil, gas, chemical and power industries. His combination of engineering and human factors experience means he is particularly able to take a systems view of projects and operations to address the full range of technical, process and people risks. He has a reputation for being able to assess complex situations and for developing practical and effective solutions. Andy’s expertise includes task and human error analysis, staffing assessments, management of change, control room assessments, alarm reviews, procedures and competence systems, human factors engineering in design and safety critical communication (including shift handover).

Kayley Clusker is a Senior HF Engineer working on an Energetic Material Manufacturing Top Tier COMAH site. Kayley has a BSc in Chemistry and MSc in Process Safety and Loss prevention. She has experience in process safety consultancy for COMAH sites and human factors consultancy for nuclear, defence and COMAH clients. Kayley’s most recent projects have largely involved Human Factors Integration to design and safety critical task analysis.

Lorraine Braben is a Chartered Human Factors Specialist, Chemical Engineer and qualified HR practitioner. Having spent her career working on COMAH sites, she’s experienced the results of engineering design and business practices which unwittingly influence behaviour and impact on safe operation of plant and equipment. Now running her own CIEHF-accredited consultancy, Lorraine offers support to clients in the assessment, delivery and training of human factors related topics.