Qatar Process Safety Symposium begins

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)

DOHA: The seventh annual Qatar Process Safety Symposium (QPSS) co-hosted by ConocoPhillips and Texas A&M University at Qatar began yesterday at The Hilton Hotel.

The two-day event entitled “Building Competency in Process Safety” addresses topics which include process safety management hazardous phenomena consequence analysis and risk assessment. The Qatar Process Safety Symposium (QPSS) has expanded this year to include an exhibition for the industry to showcase products and services relevant to process safety in the oil and gas sector.

“We are honoured to co-host the seventh annual QPSS with longtime partner Texas A&M University at Qatar” said Gary Sykes president of ConocoPhillips Qatar. “Supporting symposiums like this which provide a forum to share collective approaches within our industry allows us to draw on our global expertise and support the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Dr Eyad Masad vice dean of Texas A&M University at Qatar commented “The QPSS has grown each year and has become an influential gathering of experts and practitioners. The Symposium addresses real-world challenges and has a positive impact on an evolving field. Since the launch of the Mary K O’Connor Process Safety Center – Qatar extension in 2013 we have worked to educate a new generation of engineers and practitioners with a commitment to safety.”

Michael Hatfield vice president health safety and environment for ConocoPhillips gave the keynote speech on Managing Process Safety Competency which explored why process safety is a critical competency at ConocoPhillips.

“A competent workforce is fundamental to creating a safe working environment” Hatfield said. “The complexity of engineering and operations in the oil and gas industry requires that people have the knowledge skill and behaviors to understand the risks and safely perform their jobs. Competency should be viewed as a larger demonstration that risks are understood and controlled and the barriers that we have in place are maintained. Building competency in the organisation invests in people which are the most valuable asset we have.”

Prof Paul Amyotte professor of Chemical Engineering and C D Howe Chair in Process Safety Dalhousie University (Canada) and Editor of the Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries also gave a keynote speech on process safety concepts for the prevention of major accidents. “The Qatar Process Safety Symposium has become the must-attend event in process safety in this region” commented Dr Sam Mannan executive director of Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center (MKOPSC). “It has also become the crossroads for process safety professionals from all walks of academia government and industry.”

Dr Luc Vechot assistant professor of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University at Qatar and managing director of the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center – Qatar also said: “The event is playing a key role in providing a forum where academia industry and public institutions discuss and progress process safety issues of high relevance to Qatar and the Middle East region.”

An award ceremony recognised Mohamed Basser health environment safety and security manager Total E&P Qatar as the recipient of the QPSS Process Safety Excellence Award. Additionally Nisa Ulumuddin master student in Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University at Qatar and research assistant at MKOPSC-Qatar received the QPSS Process Safety Excellence Student Award.The Peninsula