Hazards 35: Shaping the Future of Process Safety

FOLLOWING the sellout success of Hazards 34 – which drew outstanding feedback from delegates, sponsors and exhibitors alike, and saw a notable rise in first-time attendees – this year’s Hazards 35 conference has much to live up to. Fortunately, with a record number of abstract submissions and a strong foundation already laid, the event is well positioned to deliver.

I caught up with conference chair Eamon Chandler to explore what’s new, what’s evolving and how Hazards continues to serve as a cornerstone of progress in the world of process safety.

Lasting change

“Our themes for this year’s conference are in line with previous conferences,” says Chandler. “Identifying and embedding good practice, the role of leadership, understanding the impact of new technologies and sharing across sectors will all feature. We’ll continue to stress the importance of learning from previous incidents and turning that learning into lasting change.”

This enduring relevance is clearly reflected in the industry’s appetite to contribute. The record number of abstract submissions shows that process safety professionals are keen to engage.

“I believe the conference themes align closely with what people in the industry are prioritising – strengthening process safety management and exploring new ways of managing major hazards,” he explains. “From past conferences, we know that content on hydrogen, the energy transition and technological innovation really resonates with delegates, and that continues to be the case.”

While the conference builds on familiar foundations, it also responds to rapidly evolving areas of risk. This year’s programme highlights key themes including leadership, incident learning, operational excellence and decarbonisation – with particular attention to the growing influence of digital technologies.

“We’ve got a plenary session focused on AI, alongside dedicated sessions on cybersecurity, hydrogen and energy transition,” Chandler notes. “The depth of content in these areas is growing each year as industry understanding improves and matures.”

This focus reflects an important balancing act: offering breadth across sectors and disciplines, while also delivering real depth where it matters.

Behind the scenes, a rigorous peer-review process ensures every piece of content meets the high standards expected by Hazards attendees. Each abstract is reviewed by at least three members of the technical committee, who score submissions against a set protocol.

“We then hold a session to review the scoring, compare views and agree which abstracts will become presentations or posters,” Chandler explains. “That process helps shape the workstream agendas and kicks off the speaker invitation phase.”

This methodical approach is designed to keep the conference grounded in technical excellence and practical value – two qualities that define the programme year after year.

Impressive lineup

Hazards 35 will welcome an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, each offering a unique lens on major hazard leadership and process safety innovation.

Among them, Ken Rivers – former IChemE president and non-executive director of the UK Health and Safety Executive – will deliver the Trevor Kletz Lecture, exploring current challenges in UK major hazard leadership. Rebecca Peterson of ExxonMobil will present on the company’s enhanced major accident hazard management approach, while John McDermid of the University of York will address the ethical and safe use of AI in process environments.

Other speakers include Gus Carroll, CEO of Empirisys, who will provide insights into the COMAH Strategic Forum’s current priorities and anticipated regulatory developments, and Neil Blundell of the Office for Nuclear Regulation, who will share how good practice in the nuclear sector might inform the wider process industry.

“We’ve worked hard to bring in a range of speakers who not only represent technical excellence but can also speak to the bigger picture – how leadership, regulation and innovation all intersect,” says Chandler.

Although the topics evolve, the structure of Hazards remains reassuringly familiar. Attendees can customise their learning journey by moving between workstreams, and there’s ample opportunity for discussion and networking.

“The conference format hasn’t changed much, because it works,” Chandler notes. “Delegates can dip into the presentations most relevant to them. We allow plenty of time for networking in the exhibition area and there’s room for Q&A. There’s also a strong and diverse poster programme.”

Importantly, Hazards 35 will be held at a larger venue this year, allowing for an expanded exhibition space and more topics across workstreams.

“It will be bigger and better – more topics, more space and a wider range of speakers covering new ground.”

Learning and reflecting

Beyond the sessions and speeches, the real measure of success lies in what delegates take back to their organisations.

“We want people to leave with a clear idea of what they can do differently,” Chandler says. “That might mean improving their own process safety management systems or identifying where they need to develop in order to catch up with best practice. Meeting others in the exhibition hall and reflecting on what you’ve heard can be just as valuable as any formal session.”

Networking, then, isn’t a side benefit – it’s integral to the learning experience. And it’s part of how the conference fosters an ongoing conversation within the process safety community.

“Almost all process safety incidents are repeats of previously known events,” Chandler reflects. “The challenge is not just to learn, but to act – to improve how we manage risk, and to protect people and the environment more effectively.”

As industry continues to evolve, the importance of process safety leadership is only growing. For Chandler, Hazards 35 isn’t just a conference – it’s a catalyst.

“The future of process safety depends on strong, visible leadership. We need to embed learning from previous incidents in a sustainable way, while also responding to emerging risks like AI, cyber-threats and the challenges of decarbonisation.

“Hazards 35 is part of that journey. It’s about turning good practice into common practice and giving the community the tools to shape the future together.”