Leadership Behaviors That Drive Process Safety Excellence
Effective process safety management (PSM) does not start with procedures or software – it starts with leadership behavior.
The actions leaders take every day shape how risks are identified, managed, and controlled. Below are key leadership behaviors that consistently drive PSM excellence across high-hazard industries.
Be Visible in the Field
Strong PSM leaders spend time where the work happens. They:
- Ask barrier-focused questions
- Observe real operating conditions
- Learn directly from operators about challenges and constraints
Field visibility builds credibility and uncovers hidden risk.
Treat Maintenance Items (MI) and Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) Backlogs Like Production Loss
MI and SIS backlogs are not administrative issues—they are risk indicators. Effective leaders:
- Prioritize safety-critical backlogs
- Track them with the same urgency as lost production
- Allocate resources to address them promptly
Slow or Stop Production When Barriers Are Degraded
When multiple safeguards are impaired, strong leaders are willing to:
- Throttle production
- Delay operations
- Protect people, assets, and the environment
This behavior sends a clear message about what truly matters.
Celebrate Early Bad News
Near misses and weak signals are opportunities to learn. Effective PSM leaders:
- Encourage reporting
- Reward transparency
- Punish concealment—not messengers
Early learning prevents major events.
Demand Systemic Root Cause Analysis
Superficial investigations leave organizations vulnerable. Strong leaders:
- Require thorough analysis of incidents and near misses
- Look beyond individual error
- Address systemic and organizational contributors
Learning must be deep to be effective.
How AcuTech Helps
AcuTech partners with organizations to develop leadership behaviors that drive PSM excellence, including:
- Field engagement strategies
- Barrier management training
- Root cause analysis workshops
- Safety culture transformation initiatives
These efforts strengthen accountability, learning, and long-term process safety performance.