Chemical Engineering July 2023 - 28

Cover Story
Part 2
Proactively Achieving
Emissions Reduction
At the outset, tackling emissions-reduction projects to achieve regulatory compliance can
seem daunting, but by taking a proactive approach, leaks can be handled before they become a
serious emissions issue
Lynnae Psimas
and Shalayne
Martens
INTEGRA Technologies
IN BRIEF
FOSTERING THE
CULTURE
CONTINUOUS BEST
PRACTICES
POST-TURNAROUND
ACTIVITIES
SEEKING OUTSIDE HELP
T
o meet global emissions-reduction
targets, chemical processing facilities
are facing more stringent
regulatory requirements across the
globe. As emissions regulations become
stricter with the rising global focus on environmental
impact and worker health,
work sites are directly affected in multiple
ways. Reduced emissions thresholds and
more frequent inspections bring increased
focus at a time when the industry is facing
labor shortages, decreasing budgets
and shrinking timelines. Managing fugitive
emissions on top of everything else can feel
overwhelming. However, as a part of a facility's
ongoing operating approval, effectively
managing fugitive emissions is becoming
a larger priority. With the right foundation
in place throughout an organization, it can
be possible to capture and correct leaks
before they become regulatory-reportable
emissions concerns. Reducing emissions
benefits everyone, but it can sometimes
seem challenging to implement a proactive
program in an economical manner.
Fostering the culture
Effectively managing
emissions starts with
fostering an environmentally
positive work culture,
which can be easier
said than done. Ensuring
that workers understand
why they need to support
emissions reduction
is the first step. Impactful
emissions-management
programs maintain
a strong presence in all
branches of a facility, from
maintenance to planning
to operational safety. This
widespread support of
emissions management is
28
important, not only to foster positive public
perception of the process, but also to protect
workers from exposure to dangerous emissions.
Planning and execution for emissionsrelated
programs should be communicated
clearly and early, with effort to ensure positive
buy-in at all levels (Figure 1). This helps to ensure
that everyone works toward the same
goal - a safe place to work and a facility
reputation of clean operational excellence.
While it is certainly important to communicate
the value of reducing emissions on a
regular basis, simply talking about it is obviously
not enough. Workers need documented
strategies, with their roles and responsibilities
clearly defined - and, crucially,
they must be involved in the development of
these strategies. Workers at every level must
be heard and their perspectives taken into
consideration when creating plans to meet
emissions-reduction targets. All groups within
a facility must work together to find synergies
between the environmental requirements
and maintenance management. In the new
age of remote meetings, it is easier to include
more people at the table. Inviting personnel
from all departments who can describe the
Integra Technologies
FIGURE 1. Clear communication of emissions-reduction plans to all plant workers
should be done early so that design and operational synergies can be identified
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Chemical Engineering July 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering July 2023