One operational aspect that should never be overlooked in the
hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) is safety. Refineries and petrochemical
plants contain some of the harshest working environments on the planet. Process
units operate at extremely high temperatures and pressures, and plant personnel
must be equipped with the tools, technologies and procedures to stay safe on
the jobsite.
Safety has always been of extreme importance in the
processing industries. The topic has been covered in the pages of Hydrocarbon
Processing for more than 100 yr. As the HPI has evolved, so has safety and
plant environment monitoring technologies. These tools can aid plant personnel
in increasing safety and awareness during operations.
This evolution in safety technologies continues to be a focal
point for Hydrocarbon Processing, which has continued to feature the
latest advancements in both safety systems and new assets to monitor plant
equipment and how it interacts with the environment.
Due to the importance of safety, Hydrocarbon Processing is
devoting a Special Focus section on this topic. In this month’s issue, several
technologies, procedures and best practices are provided to increase plant
safety, learn from accidents and improve emergency procedures and boost
awareness of dangers (visible and non-visible) within plant operations.
Additional topics within this issue will examine new pathways
to carbon capture/carbon dioxide mitigation, project management and improving
turnaround work, case studies in plant maintenance procedures, LNG, and much
more.
Because of the harsh nature within refineries and petrochemical installations, safety is and will continue to be imperative. As safety systems continue to evolve and advance, Hydrocarbon Processing will continue to be a leader in disseminating these new methods, technologies and procedures to our audiences around the world. HP