Analysis of process safety management system sustainability in industrial organizations with regards to organization and personnel elements

The organization and personnel element is critical to the sustainability of the Process Safety Management System (PSMS). This element reflects the commitment of personnel to the safety culture and procedures, the effectiveness of training and development programs, and the alignment of management systems with corporate objectives. In this study, it was aimed to analyze the sustainability of the process safety management system in industrial organizations, especially in terms of organization and personnel elements. For this purpose, a methodology based on benchmarking including the planning, data collection, analysis and adaptation stages was proposed. A case study was also performed on sample organizations (Organization A and Organization B). In the planning, the team was determined and the workflows of the sample organizations were explained. Data collection was carried out with a descriptive survey. Analyses were conducted using descriptive analysis and t-test. In the adaptation, targets for sustainability were determined and an action plan was developed. It was seen that Organization A and Organization B did not differ significantly in terms of personnel element (t = −1.258, p = 0.209, 95 % CI = −.192 – .042, 99 % CI = −.229 – .079). In terms of organization element, Organization B was found to be more positive than Organization A (t = −7.096, p < 0.05, 95 % CI = −.775 to −.439, 99 % CI = −.829 to −.386). The action plan for Organization A focused on key issues such as a critical assessment of current procedures, establishing effective communication, strengthening safety training, establishing a safety culture, and improving emergency management. It is envisaged that the proposed methodology can be used as a practical tool in the sustainability benchmarking of organizations, specific to the relevant element.