Free Webinar Series on Process Safety This Summer
Strengthen your process safety and risk management programs with AcuTech’s 2026 webinar series.
This summer, we’re hosting free sessions on practical challenges in process safety and risk analysis — designed for professionals who want actionable insights and real-world lessons.
Webinar 1: Confined Explosion Hazards in Enclosed Process Buildings
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Time: 12:00pm EDT / 9:00am PDT
Presenters:
Ahmad Al-Douri, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma
Andrés Ruiz-Tagle, Ph.D. | Senior Associate Engineer, Quantitative Risk Services
Colin Armstrong | Group Lead & Principal Engineer, Quantitative Risk Services
Enclosed process buildings handling flammable materials may pose significant hazards to workers and surrounding communities. When flammable liquids or gases are released, vapors can accumulate within confined spaces, and ignition can result in significant explosion hazards capable of causing fatalities, serious injuries, and extensive property damage.
Historical confined explosion and fire events — the Yenkin-Majestic paint plant explosion (2021), Watson Grinding explosion (2020), AB Specialty Silicones incident (2019), and ConAgra Slim Jim (2009) — underscore the destructive potential of these events across machine shops, paint, resin, plastics, and food manufacturing.
Despite their recurrence, few standardized methodologies exist for assessing confined explosions. Consequently, PHAs and QRAs often fail to accurately account for these critical risks.
This webinar presents findings from a systematic review of CSB incidents from 1998 to 2025 and introduces quantitative methods to evaluate confined explosion hazards in enclosed buildings and standardize their inclusion in PHAs and QRAs.
Key findings: At least 20 fatalities, 123 injuries, and billions of dollars in damages since 1998 — roughly 10% of all CSB-reported fatalities. A high-consequence confined explosion occurs, on average, every three years.
Webinar 2: Lessons Learned – Implementing Effective PSM Programs in Chemical Startups
Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Time: 12:00pm EDT / 9:00am PDT
Presenter: Felicia Miller | Senior Principal Engineer
Chemical startups focused on developing and commercializing innovative technologies are increasingly emerging across high-growth sectors including sustainable materials, energy storage, green chemistry, process intensification, and circular economy solutions. Unlike traditional chemical companies, startups operate with limited resources, high agility, and a strong emphasis on innovation and scalability.
Implementing an effective Process Safety Management (PSM) program in this dynamic environment presents unique challenges — some distinct to startups and others shared with well-established chemical companies. This webinar explores seven key difficulties encountered during PSM program implementation in startups:
- Customization over Replication
- Insufficient Process Safety Information (PSI)
- Compressed/Inadequate Safety Reviews
- Scaling Challenges
- Employee Participation & Safety Culture
- Management of Change (MOC)
- Incident Investigation
For each challenge, the webinar contrasts startup-specific constraints with the advantages held by established companies, offering practical lessons learned and actionable solutions. These insights are valuable for professionals tasked with implementing PSM in startups, as well as those in established organizations that support or collaborate with emerging ventures.
Webinar 3: Have Facilitation Skills – Will Travel
Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Time: 12:00pm EDT / 9:00am PDT
Presenter: David M. Heller, CSP, CPSA | Senior Principal Engineer
Just as Paladin roamed the Wild West as a skilled problem solver in “Have Gun – Will Travel,” an experienced facilitator should be equipped to lead hazard and risk analyses across any industry sector — even in areas divorced from their core expertise.
Facilitation requires a balance of the technical and interpersonal. Technical skills range from understanding complex systems and terminologies to having a working grasp of chemistry, physics, and practical operational knowledge. Interpersonal skills — which experienced facilitators often say matter even more — include the ability to ask probing questions, build consensus, manage group dynamics, read nonverbal cues, sustain focus, and maintain a sense of humor.
This webinar examines the technical and interpersonal skills that define successful facilitation and how you can apply your existing experience to lead a one-off assignment or begin leading studies in new areas altogether.
Registration
All webinars are free. Space is limited — register to secure your spot. If you are unable to attend live, all registrants will receive the recording.
For questions, contact us at ati@acutech-consulting.com.