Implementing Risk-Based Inspection on a Global Scale

In 2007 Rohm and Haas Company made the decision to implement risk-based inspection in over 70 covered facilities worldwide as the most cost-effective method of complying with our internal process safety management standard. The company has not traditionally dictated how to implement company standards or programs. However, standardizing on a common software system and procedures is bringing benefits in work process improvements, reporting and auditing. The company realized the need to provide plants with technical support to implement and manage the new system and developed a shared-services model for providing technical support that minimizes resource requirements at the plant level. A unique work process was developed to enable implementation on aggressive schedule while minimizing the use of outside contractors. We are already seeing benefits from the implementation but realize that we face additional challenges in bringing together a complicated network of mostly small plants in diverse businesses, especially in difficult economic times.