Dow Chemical Western Division Research pre-operational review for new projects

The Western Division of Dow Chemical, USA, started a program in the late 1970's to review early stage research projects prior to operation. The name Pre-op (Pre-operational Review) was given to describe the series of steps or process of reviewing projects for safety concerns. In recent years, the process has been examined and improved by a committee of research chemists and engineers. Some of the changes have been dictated by regulatory considerations, but primarily the focus of the continuous improvement effort has been directed at the customers: the users of the system and the research management who are ultimately responsible for the safety of their area. Pre-op reviews are a thorough review of the safety aspects of a new project along with the information necessary to meet current OSHA, EPA, Safety and Loss Prevention Principles, industrial hygiene, and other environmental regulatory concerns. The end result of the Pre-op review process is a document that contains the information needed to understand and review the proposed project. The document is reviewed at a meeting with two to eight reviewers that are not directly involved with the project. The review committee is appointed by a Pre-op Coordinator, a person who administers the system.more » The committee should include research management, research safety management, a site reactive chemicals committee representative, the pilot plant supervisor, operators, an unaffiliated chemist and engineer, and the project supervisor. The committee reviews the document package and then conducts a field inspection of the facility so that a list of recommendations can be generated. The committee recommendations must be completed by the person responsible for the project prior to start-up.« less