Amplify Your Process Safety

In this episode, William McBride joins the podcast for the third time. Will is General Manager of Mechanical Integrity at XCEL, an industrial inspection company, and joins Rob to discuss his article in the January 2026 edition of the Pipeline & Gas Journal. This episode is all about how to apply common sense to pressure vessel inspections and Mechanical Integrity programs using cost-effective...

In this episode, Rob is joined by Maye Emlein, an attorney at Verrill Law specializing in environmental law, to discuss the complexities of process safety management and risk management programs in facilities with interconnected and co-located processes. In this episode, you'll learn all about applicability, gray areas, and recent enforcement trends. Tune in for practical insights for faciliti...

In this episode, Rob is joined by his college roommate and friend, Elliot Gabelnick, to discuss the management of process safety in spin-off companies. Elliot has over 30 years of experience with DuPont and is now the Director of Global Process Safety and Risk Management at their spin-off company, Qnity Electronics. This episode is all about the importance of proper strategies for risk management,...

In this episode, Magi and Tori break down the most recent CSB final report on the June 4, 2025 furnace fire and explosion at the Shell Polymers Monaca facility. While thankfully there were no injuries or fatalities from this incident, it did cause approximately $95 million in damages to the facility. Tune in to hear what happened, how it likely could have been avoided, and the importance of proper...

In this episode, Rob is joined by guest Brian Fielkow, a business leader, international speaker, and author with an impressive background in industrial safety, to discuss Brian's new book, Making Safety Happen: The Roadmap to a Safe, Productive, and Profitable Business. This episode is all about the importance of proper process safety culture to help prevent serious incidents, including loss o...

In this episode, Magi and Tori break down the most recent CSB final report: United States Steel Corporation Clairton Plant Coke Oven Explosion. This incident occurred on August 11, 2025 when a coke oven gas leak ignited and exploded, leaving two employees fatally injured, and four more employees with injuries requiring inpatient hospitalization. Tune in for an in-depth breakdown of what went wrong...

In this episode, Magi and Tori break down the most recent CSB final report: Bio-Lab Inc. Conyers Fire and Chemical Release. This incident caused 17 days of local lockdowns, including almost two weeks of school closures, and caused an estimated $50.5 million in damages. While thankfully there were no injuries associated with this event, it certainly is an extreme example of the havoc that can be ca...

In this episode, Magi, Jackson, and Tori break down some of the incidents in volume 4 of the CSB's Accidental Release Reporting Rule (AR3) and some of the key takeaways that can help prevent future incidents. This episode covers confined space safety, the importance of following detailed safety procedures, and more! Looking for more information on Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS)? Check out th...

In this episode, Magi is joined by Tori Hargis, the newest member of the Amplify Process Safety team. Magi sits down with Tori to talk about her background and what ultimately led her to joining Amplify. Welcome to the team, Tori! To connect with Tori, find her on LinkedIn here or email her at tori.hargis@amplifyconsultants.com. To learn more about the rest of our team, visit www.amplifyconsultant...

In this episode, Rob and Jess break down the CSB final report on the fatal 2024 explosion at the Givaudan Sense Colour facility in Louisville, KY. They discuss the importance of knowing exactly what kind of hazards your facility is working with, implementing Process Safety Management when you are not legally required to do so, and how vital it is that facility personnel know when to troubleshoot a...

While the Amplify team is busy saving lives, please enjoy a replay of part one of our PSM: BACK to Basics series! This episode is all about acronyms. The world of process safety is chock-full of acronyms. In this episode, recorded in 2020, co-founder Wesley and former producer Jo tackle the essential acronyms that PSM newbies need to know, providing an explanation and context for each term. You&#3...

We are back with another blast from the past! While the Amplify Team is busy saving lives, please enjoy a rerun of episode 1, one of our highest-ranking episodes of all time. In this episode, recorded in June of 2019, co-founders Wesley and Rob give an overview of the Mechanical Integrity (MI) element of OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) standard. And, what in the world is RAGAGEP? You’ll lea...

It's a blast from the past! While the Amplify Team is busy saving lives, please enjoy a rerun of episode 17, one of our highest-ranking episodes of all time. This episode was recorded in February of 2020 by co-founders Rob Bartlett and Wesley Carter, and covers guidelines for a successful Process Hazard Analysis (PHA). Tune in for tips related to prep, study sessions, and more! For more of our...

In this episode, Rob and Jackson dive into the CSB's final investigation report on the October 2024 fatal hydrogen sulfide release at the PEMEX Deer Park Refinery in Texas. They discuss the importance of proper work permits, proper tagging on equipment, and extra safety measures for contracted workers during repairs. Tune in to hear more! For more about the incident, read the final report here! Fo...

In this episode, Jackson and Magi do a deep dive on the recently released CSB final report covering the explosions at Dow Louisiana Operations in 2023. Miraculously, despite multiple explosions and millions of dollars in damages, there was not a single injury reported. Tune in to hear what went wrong, what went right, and the recommendations the CSB and the Amplify team have for preventing future...

In this episode, Rob and Magi discuss CCPS Monograph - Process Safety and the Energy Transition: Battery Technology, and explore safeguards that can be used to reduce risk when using and storing lithium-ion batteries. As batteries become a bigger part of our lives and their use across industries increases, it is critical to evaluate the associated hazards. Tune in to hear why Magi keeps her electr...

In this episode, Rob and Jackson explore a Monograph from the CCPS - How Business Financial Decisions Impact Process Safety Performance.  They discuss the importance of senior executives using a proper approach to risk assessment when it comes to making financial decisions that could impact process safety, and why it is vital to consider not only the financial impact of a potential incident, but a...

In this episode, Rob speaks with Ren Lu You, CEO of Frontline Data Solutions, about the importance of effective EHS software in managing safety processes. They discuss Ren's journey to Frontline, Frontline's suite of tools, and how organizations can benefit from integrated safety management systems. Tune in to learn more all about how Frontline works, and if it could be an option for your...

In this episode, Magi and Jackson kick off a new miniseries, CCPS Monograph Review, by discussing the Safer Technologies and Alternatives Analysis. They talk about how to develop and implement inherently safer design, the hierarchy of controls, best practices for conducting STAA studies, and the regulatory requirements set by the EPA for STAA in certain industries. Tune in to find out more! Read t...

In this episode, Rob and Jackson discuss the CSB's Best Practices for Corporate Boards of Directors and Executives in the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry for Major Accident Prevention. They explore the importance of process safety management systems, the business case for process safety, and the critical role of corporate governance in preventing major accidents. All companies covered by PSM and...

In this episode of Amplify Your Process Safety, Rob and Magi wrap up the year by summarizing changes made to the RAGEGAP guidelines in 2025 and discussing some of the biggest incidents featured in our podcast this year. Stay tuned through the end of episode to hear Rob get up on his infamous soap box, something our clients know well, to deliver his speech on why process safety is so important! As...

In this episode, Rob and Magi dive into batch operations and the unique complexities they pose when compared to continuous processes. They discuss following guidelines from the book Guidelines for Process Safety in Batch Reaction Systems , written in 1999, and other safeguards that can be added when dealing with batch processes. Tune in to find out more! Interested in learning more about Batch Sys...

In this episode, Rob is joined by Tim Murphy, the Manager of the Corporate Process Safety Department at one of our longtime clients, Arkema. Rob and Tim discuss Cornerstones of Process Safety, a Process Safety training workshop that Amplify partnered with Arkema to create and bring to their engineers annually. Tune in to hear about the advantages the Cornerstones of Process Safety training brings...

In this episode, Jackson and Magi discuss some of the incidents in the CSB's most recent volume of the Accidental Release Reporting Rule, or AR3 as we like to call it. This episode is all about the importance of pressure relief systems and thorough hazard evaluations to ensure the safety of workers. Tune in to find out more! For more about the CSB's AR3, read volume one here , volume two h...

In this episode, Rob and Jackson discuss the findings of the CSB report regarding an ammonia release incident at Cuisine Solutions in Sterling, Virginia. They delve into the details of the incident, the safety highlights from the report, and the recommendations made by the CSB to improve safety protocols. This episode highlights the importance of emergency preparedness, effective communication, an...