Process Safety with Trish & Traci

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The Process Safety with Trish & Traci podcast shares insights from recent process-safety incidents to avoid accidents at chemical processing plants.

  1. 3D AGO

    When Nature Attacks: Preparing Chemical Facilities for NATECH Events

    When natural disasters strike industrial facilities, the results can be catastrophic — and most companies aren't ready. In this episode of Process Safety with Trish and Traci, Trish Kerin and Traci Purdum explore NATECH events, where natural hazards collide with industrial risk. Drawing on real incidents including Arkema in Crosby, Texas, BioLab in Lake Charles and the Fukushima disaster, they examine why facilities consistently underestimate natural hazard risk, how to build truly complete ride-out and recovery plans, and why traditional PHAs fall short for NATECH scenarios. Kerin's bottom line: assume the event will happen, and prepare accordingly.

    30 min

  2. FEB 24

    Human Factors Engineering: Designing Systems Around Our Limitations

    Chernobyl, Bhopal, Three Mile Island, Deepwater Horizon, Texas City — What do they have in common? Human error or human factors were identified as contributing to the incidents. But what are these factors? Understanding how people actually perceive, decide and act is essential to preventing catastrophic industrial accidents and everyday errors. This In Case You Missed It episode brings the written word to life from the column:  Human Factors Engineering: Designing Systems Around Our Limitations

    7 min

  3. FEB 10

    Revalidating Process Hazard Analysis: Getting Real Value

    In this episode, Trish Kerin and Traci Purdum explore process hazard analysis revalidations and how to make them more effective. Kerin explains the difference between redoing a PHA and revalidating existing assessments, introducing the Delta HAZOP methodology that focuses on creeping change in facilities. She discusses triggers for revalidation, from legislative requirements to significant operational changes, and emphasizes the importance of selecting the right team and methodology. Kerin highlights how AI and machine learning can help gather data and identify trends, while stressing that human expertise remains essential. The key takeaway: approach revalidations with rigor and discipline, not as tick-box exercises, to truly identify hazards and manage risk effectively.

    24 min

  4. JAN 27

    Calculate Risk to Capture Reward

    Applying risk management principles helps Process Safety Engineer Trish Kerin navigate her first successful year of self-employment. Listen in as Trish brings her January column to life. You can read her column here.

    6 min

  5. JAN 13

    Challenger Disaster 40 Years Later: The Deadly Cost of Reversing Safety Burden

    Engineers couldn't prove danger, so managers launched anyway. Seven astronauts died when O-rings failed in freezing temperatures. Apply the lessons learned to help avoid future incidents.   Three Key Takeaways: Reverse the burden of proof: Require positive proof that something is safe before proceeding, rather than forcing engineers to prove it's unsafe. Simplify safety communication: Complex data failed to convince decision-makers, but a simple demonstration (O-ring in ice water) made the danger crystal clear. Protect technical authority: Engineers need more than just formal authority to stop unsafe operations — they need genuine psychological safety to exercise that power without career consequences.

    24 min

  6. 12/23/2025

    Bird’s-Eye View Prevents Process Safety Groundings

    This In Case You Missed It episode brings the written word to life. Today, Trish Kerin, the director of Lead Like Kerin, and Stay Safe columnist for Chemical Processing, will read her column "Bird’s-Eye View Prevents Process Safety Groundings," which was published to chemicalprocessing.com on Dec. 17, 2025.

    6 min

  7. 12/09/2025

    Young Engineer Champions Process Safety Via Social Media

    In this year-end episode, hosts Trish Kerin and Traci Purdum welcome Hayley Little, a U.K.-based process safety engineer who tracks quarterly catastrophic incidents on LinkedIn. The discussion explores origin stories in process safety, the critical gap in fundamental safety knowledge outside petrochemical industries, and the alarming frequency of preventable incidents in lower-hazard sectors. They discuss innovative solutions including AI tools, virtual reality training and social media outreach to democratize process safety education. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for better university training, field presence over desk work and human factors integration to make it easier to "accidentally get it right."

    34 min

  8. 11/25/2025

    Platypus, Duck or Weak Signal? Process Safety Lessons from Down Under

    This In Case You Missed It episode brings the written word to life. Today, Trish Kerin, the director of Lead Like Kerin, and Stay Safe columnist for Chemical Processing, will read the first few chapters from her book  “The Platypus Philosophy – how to identify and manage weak signals”  This book explores weak signals and focuses on how to identify and manage them to prevent incidents. It uses fun storytelling about the unique platypus as a technique to explain complex concepts and tools. You can purchase this book on Amazon or snag a signed copy from Trish’s website, leadlikekerin.com.

    23 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The Process Safety with Trish & Traci podcast shares insights from recent process-safety incidents to avoid accidents at chemical processing plants.

Information

  • Creator
    chemicalprocessingsafety
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Process Safety with Trish & Traci

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