A Major Platinum Producer’s Journey to Process Safety Excellence

Process Safety Management (PSM) is foundational to managing safety holistically within heavy industry. Despite this, its integration is relatively new in the mining and metals industry. In this case study we demonstrate how a major platinum producer’s PSM journey not only reduced the operational risk profile by enhancing the prevention and mitigation of catastrophic events such as fires, explosions, and toxic releases, but also generated significant value for the business.

The PSM transformation programme, adopted by this major platinum producer with the help of dss⁺ , demonstrates a more holistic approach to managing operational risk beyond occupational safety, by embedding deeper risk recognition and management practices in day-to-day operational and asset management processes. Adoption of PSM enables safer, more reliable, and sustainable operations in high-risk industries such as mining and metals.

An outcome driven and integrated approach was developed, with clear objectives to support the journey and steer the effort of the teams. It was applied in a staged manner, with 3 distinct phases:

• Phase 1 was focused on mitigating key process safety risks, establishing PSM governance requirements and driving quick wins to catalyse momentum
• Phase 2 aimed at enhancing PSM capabilities & deploying priority PSM systems into the organisation at a site level
• Phase 3 aimed at embedding PSM into execution-level activities and driving continuous improvement effort

The PSM programme implemented with a risk-based approach with the support of dss⁺ team, is a critical milestone toward safer, stable, reliable and more sustainable operations.

It provided leadership and shareholders with higher confidence on the achievements of short and longer term business goals.