Amman, Sept. 13 (Petra) -- The 3rd Jordanian International Forum for Chemical Process Safety opened on Sunday at the Royal Cultural Center in Amman, bringing together experts and specialists from Jordan, Arab countries, and around the world.

Organized by the Process Safety Engineers Society under the Chemical Engineering Division at the Jordan Engineers Association (JEA), the four-day event is held under the theme "Towards Safe Engineering and Effective Industrial Risk Management." Representing the event's patron, Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) Chairman Mohammad Thneibat, JPMC Chief Executive Officer Abdel Wahab al-Ruwad stated that safety has become an integral part of the industrial system and a requirement for its sustainability, efficiency, and competitiveness.

Al-Ruwad noted that chemical process safety serves as a comprehensive system for risk management and the prevention of major accidents, protecting workers, facilities, investments, and the environment. He emphasized the importance of exchanging expertise and keeping pace with global best practices.

He added that Jordan is undergoing a key phase of modernization and development driven by royal directives, particularly in economic and industrial sectors, enhancing the national economy's competitiveness and attracting investment opportunities.

JEA President Abdullah Ghosheh stressed that process safety begins with the initial engineering decision and spans the stages of design, operation, and maintenance.

Ghosheh pointed out that the increasing complexity of industrial operations and rapid technological developments make proactive risk management necessary. Investing in safety, he said, is an investment in human capital, continuous production, environmental protection, and national industrial competitiveness.

He added that the forum provides a platform to exchange expertise and discuss the latest practices in risk management, process safety, management of change, asset reliability, human factors, emergency response, and incident investigation.

Chemical Engineering Division Head Linda Al-Hmoud noted that process safety extends beyond emergency procedures to anticipating hazards before they escalate into incidents. She highlighted the importance of fostering a safety culture, heeding warnings, and learning from industrial accidents, adding that the success of safety systems is measured by the risks and accidents prevented.

Sami Amarneh, head of the forum's preparatory committee and president of the Jordanian Chemical Process Safety Engineers Society, said the event takes place over four days across Amman, Madaba, and Aqaba, with participation from the U.S., Europe, Jordan, and the broader Arab world.

Amarneh added that the forum's agenda covers process safety management systems, safety culture, risk assessment, management of change, asset reliability, human factors, emergency preparedness, and root-cause incident investigation.

//Petra// AF