Buenos Aires hosted the eighth edition of the “Latin American Process Safety Conference,” which was co-organized for the first time by the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) and ARPEL.

The event, held September 10-13 at the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), was attended by over 350 professionals representing more than 80 companies and institutions from 15 countries.

The conference agenda comprised 40 technical presentations and seven keynote speeches. The topics addressed were: Skills in process safety; Leadership and culture; Mechanical integrity; Change management; Risk identification and management; and Safety process technology, among others.

Presentations emphasized some key messages, such as the importance of a comprehensive approach to this issue, which allows integrating safety processes to business strategy. Emphasis was also placed on the importance of safety culture and of working on it systematically, especially with a focus on people, as well as on the need to work at the level of skills in safety, particularly in countries where the industry is expanding and adding new personnel. The experts also noted the importance of regulation to encourage the implementation of best practices.

The “Latin American Process Safety Conference” was sponsored by PAE, Pluspetrol, YPF, Dupont, Maja Consulting, Shell, Air Liquide, Dow, Honeywell, Oldelval, Praxair, RSE, Siemens, DNV-GL, Lloyd's Register, PSRG, CETAP, Walter Sarmiento Ingeniería, PII, Flyability, and TUV Rheinland, some of which participated in the exhibition area.

Concurrently with the conference, two activities were developed. Firstly, the “Workshop of Business Leaders,” attended by top executives of downstream and upstream sectors, which discussed the role of leadership in the development of an organizational culture that promotes safe behavior and integrity.

Secondly, a workshop entitled "New approach on process safety metrics," attended by 150 participants, which focused discussions on reactive and proactive safety process indicators, regional statistics, and the comprehensive approach to organizational culture and safety.

The week closed with a meeting of the Health, Safety and Environment Committee of ARPEL, which defined the projects to further advance the improvement of safety performance of companies in the region.