The course delves into real-life scenarios and case studies from the natural gas and LNG industries to underscore the importance of safety in operations. Authored by an experienced professional, this course highlights the lessons learned from incidents and near-misses, exploring technical, procedural, and cultural elements essential for ensuring workplace safety. The course equips participants with the knowledge to identify potential risks, foster a culture of safety, and implement preventive measures to protect personnel, equipment, and the community. 

The mistakes and mishaps of past, associated with natural gas operations, maintenance, and safety, will be examined through the illustrative case studies. Numerous proven natural gas and LNG operations, safety, and proper maintenance best practices will be covered. The audience is engaged through Q&A, classwork, and ad hoc discussions pertaining to the topic. 

Learning Objectives By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 

1. Understand Key Safety Concepts: Differentiate between critical safety phenomena such as leaks, ruptures, BLEVEs, and rollovers, and comprehend their causes and consequences. 

2. Evaluate and Apply Lessons Learned: Analyze real-life incidents to identify underlying safety failures and apply these insights to prevent future occurrences. 

3. Foster a Safety Culture: Recognize the importance of a robust safety culture and implement strategies to integrate safety into daily operations and decision-making. 

4. Enhance Technical Knowledge: Gain insights into technical systems and their safe operations, including LNG transport, combustion dynamics, and instrumentation. 

5. Strengthen Communication Practices: Improve communication and documentation within teams to minimize misunderstandings and enhance safety outcomes. 

6. Implement Risk Mitigation Strategies: Apply knowledge of process safety analysis, management of change, and other frameworks to maintain multiple layers of protection 

7. Promote Proactive Safety Measures: Develop proactive approaches to safety, including regular audits, operator training, and emergency preparedness 

Speaker: Steve Vitale, PE, Ph.D.

Dr. Vitale holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the NY Polytechnic University (presently known as NYU School of Engineering). He was registered as a Professional Engineer in six states and is actively registered in New York and Pennsylvania. Dr. Vitale is a veteran engineer with over 52 years of experience in the Gas Industry, including:

Vice President and Chief Engineer over Production and Engineering across 4 States. Dr. Vitale worked domestically and internationally as a consultant for the Gas Industry for more than 20 years, particularly in LNG import, export, and peak shaving facilities around the world. A major focus has been on site-specific plant operator training. 

Dr. Vitale combines the best of the academic theoretical world with the practical on-the-job industry world. This results in a training experience whereby his industry professional learners understand the technologies they control in theory and application. The learning experience applies to science while training engineers to design plant facilities that can be maintained and operated in real-world conditions. 

Dr. Vitale's dedication to the engineering field is evident in his teaching of graduate and undergraduate evening engineering courses while working in the Gas Industry during his day job. His current focus and passion lie in providing training services to ensure the safety and reliability of petrochemical, process, and electric generation facilities. He is committed to excellence.