The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) operates in a dynamic and challenging environment. The scope and complexity of our safety mission will continue to grow, requiring that we fundamentally rethink how we will use data, information, and technology to achieve our safety goals. Implementing a strong safety culture and a safety management system (SMS) framework will allow us to address our goals in responding to the realities of hazmat trends, stakeholder priorities, and an increasingly dynamic operating environment.  SMS can situate the agency in a stronger position to develop solutions before – not after – an accident happens. For decades, the SMS process has been widely adopted within government and many high-risk industries including the nuclear industry, the chemical sector, and the aviation industry to manage safety risks.<br/><br/>PHMSA is in the process of developing a SMS framework to outline core concepts and how these elements apply internally as well as externally to our regulated entities. It has been shown that SMS and system safety programs can be effective in all organizations regardless of size, particularly when there is an emphasis on fostering a safety conscious environment / culture to identify hazards early and mitigate associated risks.  PHMSA’s SMS will build on existing procedures and tools and introduce new capabilities and systems of work deemed necessary to meet SMS requirements. PHMSA’s SMS implementation plan supports the integration and interoperability of existing functions across its hazardous materials and pipeline programs and facilitates the establishment of a consistent and integrated SMS internally and within industries subject to its regulatory oversight. However, there are numerous challenges the agency faces when trying to develop and promote a strong safety culture within the agency and throughout the regulated community.<br/>

Challenges and opportunities of building and promoting safety culutre with a federal agency

254th National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.