Should Process Safety Practitioners be Independent?

Why Independence Is Critical in Process Safety 

In operating environments, we constantly are trying to balance several goals which often can be in conflict from each other. These include trying to strike a balance between meeting production & financial requirements and between managing safety, environmental and reputation risks. As a safety professional, one role we have is to ensure safety gets the appropriate level of attention. Being independent from the operational & financial aspects of running a business supports the integrity of these decisions.

Why Independence Matters in Process Safety Activities

• Unbiased Facilitation of Workshops Independence ensures that facilitators are not influenced by operational pressures or organisational politics. This objectivity is critical when identifying hazards and evaluating controls.
• Credibility and Trust When participants know the facilitator is independent, they are more likely to share concerns openly.
• Compliance and Assurance Regulatory frameworks often require independent verification of controls. This reinforces that independence is not just a best practice but a compliance expectation.
• Avoiding Conflicts of Interest Facilitators embedded in operations or projects may unconsciously downplay risks to meet production or project goals. Independence removes this conflict, ensuring decisions are based on safety rather than convenience.
• Improved Quality of Outcomes Independent facilitators bring fresh perspectives and challenge assumptions, which is vital for complex processes like Bowties, LOPA or HAZOPs.
  
   

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  Convenience, Cost or Outcome?

  Often, the goal of many organisations in seeking safety services is to seek a good outcome, conveniently for the lowest cost. For larger projects or where larger engineering consultancies are embedded into an owner’s organisation, there is a temptation to use the safety services of that larger consulting organisation to reduce costs, smooth procurement requirements, potentially ease logistical challenges. This seduction can lead to future problems however there are ways to mitigate against these.

To mitigate against the potential weaknesses of a “cost first” model, owners’ organisations often engage independent specialists to support the process and close the expertise gaps that may exist in their own organisation.

Best Practices to Ensure Independence

• Use external facilitators for high-risk or high-profile projects.
• Define independence in the scope of work or contract.
• Separate reporting lines for safety facilitators and project managers.
• Encourage a strong safety culture where facilitators are supported in raising concerns.

 A quick checklist to help you assess the independence of your process safety facilitator. 

Ready to take your process safety strategy to the next level?

Our independent HAZOP facilitation services support organisations in delivering high-quality, structured hazard identification studies. With experienced facilitators guiding the process, we help teams identify hazards, assess risks, and develop practical recommendations that improve safety outcomes. Find out more about our HAZOP Facilitation services.