Procedure excellence: Changing paradigms to enable human reliability

Abstract

A multi‐year review of process safety event learning data revealed that procedure usability and human factors were leading the trends of performance deviations by front‐line personnel. These insights prompted an enterprise‐wide Agile project to build capability focused on effective written guidance using science‐based tools and advanced error reduction techniques. Application of the Agile methodology was critical to gaining stakeholder commitment and establishing a comprehensive procedure integrity lifecycle to drive continuous improvement. Chemours partnered with an external consultant to create a holistic framework applicable to vital process safety roles with an orientation toward operational excellence. We share preliminary learnings and best practices leveraged from the nuclear industry, including systemic drivers to procedural deviations, the “top five error drivers” in written guidance, human performance modes (mental models), and key principles to enable human reliability.