The UK Strategy for skills in Process Safety Management 2012 – 2014

The Process Safety Management Project
In order to address the key issues leading to this market failure, in early 2010 the CIA and the
National Skills Academy for the Process Industries (the Skills Academy) identified the need
from their members and customers for a joined-up and integrated programme of PSM
training and education for employees at all levels. The need for understanding at board and
site director level was a recurring theme during these discussions, as was the requirement to
tailor PSM training to each level in the organisation, and a strong desire for training to be
sponsored by the key trade bodies, supported by the HSE and validated by the appropriate
body. After further research and consultation, the PROCESS SAFETY MANAGEMENT PROJECT
was launched in November 2010, led by a Project Board now composed of senior
representatives from the Skills Academy, CIA, HSE, IChemE, IMechE, UK Petroleum
Industries Association (UKPIA), Tank Storage Association (TSA), Unite the Union and Cogent
SSC, and senior industrialists with experience, expertise and interests in PSM from across the
sector.
A gap analysis undertaken by the European Process Safety Centre confirmed the existence of
a significant number of courses focussing on support for PSM specialists and, critically,
highlighted that there were very few courses targeted at Senior Executives, Management and
Operations staff, with fewer still designed to deliver a general PSM awareness for nonspecialists
in process safety.
To develop Training Standards for Process Safety Management aimed at delivering a higher
level of awareness of PSM across the various levels of responsibility within COMAH and other
Major Accident Hazard organisations, an Expert Panel was established by the PSM Board.
Training Standards outline the detail to be covered in training programmes to ensure the
required level of knowledge or competence can be achieved, and against which training
content, whether delivered by in-house training staff or by external training providers, can be
benchmarked.
Training Standards will in most cases also give an indication of the level of knowledge and
experience required of the individuals delivering the training, whether an assessment or end
of course test is required or recommended, and will identify any specific resources that will
support the effective delivery of the training.
Cogent SSC is the standards setting body for training and qualifications in the UK Process
Industries and manages the development of the PSM Training Standards, supported by
process safety specialists from industry, trade associations, unions, training organisations and
the COMAH Competent Authority within the PSM Expert Panel.
The development of Training Standards has been informed by the analysis of available
training, indicating a market failure in the availability and take-up of awareness level courses
targeted at different levels within industry. The priorities for Training Standard development
have been agreed by members of the Project Board and the Expert Panel.
THE UK STRATEGY FOR SKILLS IN PROCESS SAFETY MANAGEMENT 2012 – 2014: A SKILLS BLUEPRINT FOR INDUSTRY PROGRESS REPORT APRIL 2013
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