Introduction

Recent regulations and suggested best practices drive companies to seek new ways to address workforce competency. What do we mean by a competent workforce? One where everyone understands what they need to do, when and how it must be done and has access to all necessary tools, information, and training required to complete their work safely. The purpose of creating a competent workforce is, at heart, to reduce human error and the potential for incidents.

Today, that means meeting standards including the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS) and the Responsible Care® Process Safety Code of Management Practices. The Responsible Care® provision addresses knowledge, expertise, and training:

• Process safety competency requirements are established and executed for management, engineering, and operational personnel

• Process safety competency requirements are established and executed by contractors and third-party service providers, commensurate with the activities performed 

• Employees and contractors are trained on process safety, commensurate with their process safety responsibilities 

• Company process safety experts are provided continuing education related to emerging process safety tools and techniques

While these provisions require competency of employees and contractors and the general guidance provides an overall framework, the framework lacks the detail to define specific work processes to manage start-to-finish workforce competency truly.

This white paper explores this topic in greater depth.