Enforcement of the Safety Culture in the LPG and LNG Sector: Findings of Seveso Controlling Activities

The paper concerns the results that emerged from the analysis of the control activities carried out by ISPRA in the context of the Italian implementation of the Directive 2012/18/EU aiming at the control of major accidents (socalled "Seveso III"), on industrial establishments in the LPG and LNG sector. Starting from the presentation of the European and Italian technical regulation, a sample of the following types of establishments are analysed in terms of technical and organizational aspects: urban storage and distribution of LPG; underground storage of LPG; multi-site LPG storage company; LNG storage and regasification terminal. The main conclusions of the assessments of Safety Reports and inspections on Safety Management Systems carried out on some national case studies are explained, aimed at emphasizing the return of experience and the lessons learned for the Competent Authorities activities. Finally, some types of non-compliances found during the control activities are provided, in terms of organizational and management aspects aimed at the enforcement of the safety culture of the industrial establishments. They regard the evaluation of: Safety Reports, from a structural, organizational, and documentary completeness point of view; Safety Management System inspections, in terms of training, operational control and emergency management activities.

Keywords: Safety reports, Safety management systems, LPG, LNG, Controlling activities, Safety culture.

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