The build-up of chemical safety expertise in small plants using the SPASE approach

Small plants handling, storing or processing hazardous chemicals are obliged to follow the same legislative and other norms as large chemical companies. The main difference in comparison with larger companies is that these small plants seldom have in-house safety and environmental experts, and subsequently the safety, health and environmental issues are normally handled solely by the line management. Consultants might be used to some extent, but are usually dismissed as being too expensive. The SPASE methodology (Small Plants - Assistance with Safety and Environment) has recently been developed as an alternative to having an in-house safety expert in the small process plant. In the SPASE Guidebook, a group of European safety experts have gathered information about what small plants should do in order to reduce the risk of accidents caused by chemicals, why these activities are necessary, in which order they should be applied, and who should be involved in the safety work. The SPASE Workbook contains a set of recommended tools and the corresponding documentation forms, and also includes a section on applicable risk reduction means. This paper concentrates on discussing how the new SPASE methodology works in practice in reducing accidents in small plants, showing how the information gathered can be used for teaching and training purposes, and also how the documentation facilitates risk communication and discussions with the authorities.