Chemical process safety education in China: An overview and the way forward. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Motalifu, Mailidan; Tian, Yue; Liu, Yi; Zhao, Dongfeng; Bai, Mingqi; Kan, Yufeng; Qi, Meng; Reniers, Genserik; Roy, Nitin
• Is Part Of: Safety science. Volume 148(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Chemical engineering -- Interdisciplinary graduates -- Engineering education accreditation -- Chemical process industry; ABET Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology -- AI Artificial Intelligence -- AIChE-CCPS-CS American Institute of Chemical Engineers-Center for Chemical Process Safety-China Section -- IIOT Industrial Internet of Things -- CCSA China Chemical Safety Association -- CEEAA China Engineering Education Accreditation Association -- CNPC China National Petroleum Corporation -- CPI Chemical Process Industry -- CPS Cyber-physical Systems -- CSB US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board -- CSC China Scholarship Council -- GDP Gross Domestic Product -- HAZOP Hazard and Operability Study -- IChemE Institute of Chemical Engineers -- SAChE Safety and Chemical Engineering Education -- SMEs Small and Medium-sized Enterprises -- SI Safety Intelligence -- UAB University of Alabama at Birmingham -- UPC China University of Petroleum (East China) -- VR Virtual Reality; Industrial accidents -- Periodicals; Accident Prevention -- Periodicals; Safety -- Periodicals; Travail -- Accidents -- Périodiques; 363.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2021.105643
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0925-7535

Abstract

Highlights: Professional accreditation of undergraduate Chemical Engineering and Safety Engineering majors in higher education institutions in China. Chemical process safety education through different majors. The current discipline construction of the newly established major Chemical Safety Engineering in China. Suggestions to further promote chemical process safety education. Abstract: The chemical process industry (CPI) in China is developing rapidly with installations becoming more complicated and integrated to meet people's rising demands for chemical-related products. However, the fast-growing CPI has caused catastrophic consequences and bad social influence due to accidents occurred in the last decades, which has threatened its sustainable development. As one of the solutions, the Chinese government is promoting chemical process safety education to train interdisciplinary graduates who understand both chemical process and loss prevention, who are skilled in technology, and how to manage risk. In this paper, we reviewed the development of chemical process safety education in China by researching syllabuses of accredited undergraduate Chemical Engineering and Safety Engineering majors in higher education institutions, discussed the associated shortcomings by analyzing the current discipline construction of the newly established major Chemical Safety Engineering, including education methodologies, resources, faculties, curriculum provision, and professional accreditation. Based on the analysis results, suggestions were provided to encourage institutions to strengthen chemical process safety education, thereby inherently reducing human errors and consequently improving the safety of the entire CPI.