June 2, 2026
9:15AM - 10:15AM

Process Safety Track

PHA 3.0 From Compliance to Assurance: Transforming an Enterprise PHA Program

Speakers: Danny White and Andrew Lett

Process hazard analysis programs in the process industry face a common challenge: meeting regulatory requirements is necessary, but it is not sufficient. This paper describes CITGO Petroleum Corporation’s multi-year journey to transform its enterprise PHA program from a compliant, decentralized operation into a consistent, technically rigorous assurance process spanning three refineries and five business units.

Working in partnership with ABS Consulting, CITGO standardized its hazard identification methodology, developed equipment-specific severity guidance, restructured its LOPA philosophy, and built a recommendation resolution process tied to verified field implementation. Equally important were the organizational lessons: how to drive change without consensus, how to scale program management as efficiency improves, and how to shift the conversation with operational teams from regulatory obligation to genuine care for worker safety.

This paper is intended for process safety professionals, site PSM teams, and corporate functions looking to raise the ceiling on an existing compliant program. It is a practitioner’s account, not a compliance lecture.

Attendees will leave with the ability to:

        1.      Apply a structured, equipment-specific severity and LOPA methodology that produces consistent PHA outcomes across multiple sites and facilitator teams.

        2.      Implement organizational and governance practices that drive enterprise-scale program change without stalling on consensus, including resource commitment processes, escalation protocols, and program management fundamentals.

        3.      Reframe PHA facilitation conversations around workforce protection and company values rather than regulatory obligation, improving operational team engagement and hazard identification quality.