Process Safety

THE CHALLENGE
PREVENTION THROUGH PROCESS SAFETY
Borealis' petrochemical operations handle large amounts of flammable materials under elevated pressure and temperatures. Therefore process safety is of prime importance to ensure the health and safety of Borealis' employees, neighbouring communities and the environment. Leaks, fires and explosions can have a major impact on the on employees, their families, the community and the environment. Borealis therefore regards it as a moral duty to invest in the prevention of process safety incidents and ensure that the plants are properly designed, maintained and operated to avoid accidents.
THE APPROACH
TOOLS TO PREVENT AND PROTECT
As a member of the European Process Safety Centre, Borealis actively supports industry-wide efforts to enhance process safety. A dedicated Process Safety department has developed special tools that enhance risk identification. With these tools, every process safety incident is investigated, reviewed and preventative actions are taken. The resulting actions are monitored at Borealis Group level. Borealis also conducts process safety training and safety management courses throughout the company. Safety audits known as 'Borealis Blue Audits' are currently being rolled out in the area of operations, plant availability and engineering and health and safety.
GOAL ZERO
To achieve its objective to record zero accidents, Borealis launched the Goal Zero programme in 2014. As Borealis employees are encouraged to see Goal Zero as a journey to be taken together, the programme helps establish a collective health and safety mindset. Focusing on enhancing the awareness of, competences in, and management of process safety risk, the programme was supplemented in 2015 by the creation of a process safety matrix for all key functions in the organisation. Several dedicated workshops and training sessions were carried out, and a safety awareness handbook was distributed among Borealis Leaders to help them enhance process safety performance.
REFERENCE PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES
BOREALIS BLUE AUDITS
Borealis conducts process safety training and safety management courses throughout the company. Safety audits known as Borealis Blue Audits are regularly completed in Operations, Plant Availability and Engineering, and Health and Safety. In 2015, four such audits were carried out: in Stenungsund, Linz, Antwerp and Rockport. In 2016, Borealis Blue Audits are scheduled for recently-acquired locations in France and Belgium.