We know Process Safety.
We know all things process safety and can help you develop or enhance your programs.
Ethos has assembled a team of experts who apply what they learned through years of process safety experience in the industry and dealing with OSHA and EPA. We have “been there, done that,” and provide practical expertise that most other consulting firms cannot.
We help our clients achieve process safety excellence through pragmatic application of exceptional expertise.
How We Help
Two ways we partner with clients across the process safety lifecycle.
Program Development
For all areas of process safety, we help our clients develop effective programs specific to their needs. We will not push a cookie-cutter program onto our clients. We listen first and then, using our years of experience, develop the best suited program for each client.
Program Audits / Assessments
Whether a client is just starting a program or wants to vet a program in place for years, we will take a deep look into the effectiveness and sustainability of the programs and provide practical recommendations to improve the program based on our years of experience and broad interaction with the industry.
Audit Protocol Development
Most audit findings are decided before the audit starts, by the protocol. A generic checklist pulled off a shelf will tell you whether you have a procedure. It won’t tell you whether the procedure you have matches the RAGAGEP you committed to, or whether your site is actually doing what it says.
We build the protocol for what you actually need to verify. That means your company- or site-specific procedures, or the RAGAGEP your program is written to, API 510, 570, 653, RP 580/581, ASME, NBIC, translated into line-by-line auditable questions, each paired with the objective evidence an auditor should expect to find.
You keep the protocol: a formal written protocol document, plus a scoreable Excel workbook carrying the question set with citation and evidence columns. It’s yours to run again next cycle, whether that’s an internal self-audit, a corporate audit team, or a third party walking your site.
Our Service Areas
Deep expertise across process safety and mechanical integrity.
Mechanical & Asset Integrity
Mechanical / Asset Integrity
We do ALL things mechanical integrity. From initial program development to deep-dive program assessments. Our MI services include documenting management systems, assessing programs, post-incident forensics, IOW/DMR program development, MI-specific training, and program assessments. We even sit on some clients’ internal committees to help guide their mechanical integrity programs.
Fixed Equipment Mechanical Integrity Programs
We have some of the best experts in industry for fixed equipment (i.e., pressure vessel, piping, tank, relief devices) MI. Some of our MI consultants sit on the API subcommittee for API 510, API 570 and associated API standards. We help clients develop and strengthen fixed equipment MI programs including integrity operating windows (IOWs), damage mechanism reviews (DMRs), and inspection planning.
Inspection Program Data Quality
We have helped several clients review their inspection data management system (IDMS) data quality and found significant opportunities to improve the data. The industry relies heavily on thickness data to make risk-based decisions. Bad quality data can result in poor decisions. Our experts know where and how to look to identify inaccurate or missing data to help our clients make sound risk-based decisions.
Process Safety Information
We help develop PSI programs for our clients, including identifying the minimum PSI. We also do deep dives to identify potential missing or inaccurate PSI and help locate, recreate and/or organize the information. We help clients identify and document applicable recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices (RAGAGEPs) for their particular process(es).
Compliance Audits & Assessments
PSM / RMP Compliance Audits
We conduct PSM/RMP compliance audits for some of the major refining companies in the country. We have been told we are the best at what we do. We do not do “check-the-box” audits. We know OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.119 (PSM) and EPA’s 40 CFR Part 68.79 (RMP) and how industry complies with the regulations. We also provide experts to support some clients’ internal audit programs.
API RP 751 HF Alky Audits
Several of our consultants have years of experience with hydrofluoric acid (HF) alkylation units. Several of us were selected by API to conduct 751 audits and support our clients in auditing and/or enhancing their API RP 751 Safe Operation of HF Alky Unit programs. Some of our consultants are on the API RP 751 update task group so we know what the next edition will require.
Health and Safety
Our team audits one or all of the various occupational health, including industrial hygiene, and safety programs for our clients. Our team of experts know the OSHA regulations and help strengthen our clients’ programs. We also help clients develop health and safety programs. Auditing and program development include lockout / tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, hot work, and other safe work practices.
Operating Procedures
Several of our team members worked in Operations for many years and have a strong background in operating procedure development and periodic updates. They also developed turnaround shutdown and startup procedures. Now, they help clients develop operating procedures and review turnaround shutdown / startup procedures.
Safe Work Practices
A group of our consultants specialize in developing and auditing safe work practices for clients. They know the regulations, what good looks like, and how to practically apply safe work practices. Whether it be LOTO, confined space, hot work, safe work, excavations, electrical safety, opening process equipment, we help clients improve their programs.
Audit Protocol Development, see above.
Process Hazard Analysis
Process Hazard Analysis
We have some of the best PHA facilitators in the industry. They know the PHA process and have experience actually operating process units. The level of detail has been complimented by our clients. We also have a PHA training course to introduce team participants to the different PHA techniques and the PHA process.
Incident Investigations
We help clients develop incident investigation programs. We are also experienced and trained to conduct root cause investigations and support clients in developing corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence. Because of our years of experience, our investigation teams are efficient and drive to the root cause(s) of an incident.
Training & Competency
Training
We offer face-to-face training for:
- Process Safety Basics (3 days)
- Process Hazards Analysis Leadership (3 days)
- Mechanical Integrity (2 days)
- Incident Investigation (2 days)
We can customize our training to align with your site’s specific needs.
Not sure which of these your program needs first?
Consult with our expertsIndustries we serve
Our consultants built their careers inside these industries, not just studying them.
- Refining
- Petrochemicals and chemicals
- LNG
- Oil and gas production, onshore and offshore
- Pipelines
- Terminals, tank farms, and wharfs
- Offshore platforms (SEMS)
- Specialty chemicals
Ready to talk process safety?
Reach out and we’ll connect you with the right expert on our team.
Consult with our experts