Chemical Processing Magazine

10/03/2025

The latest Distilled podcast episode details the Aguinda v. Texaco, Inc. contamination lawsuit and the RICO lawsuit filed by Chevron against the lead attorney in the case. Podcast guest Dave Russell was a witness for Chevron.

Dave was hired in 2003 to travel to Ecuador to inspect the contamination site in question and provide his expert opinion on how to remediate the contamination and the associated costs. During Dave’s due diligence, he realized that the contamination in question wasn’t from Texaco/Chevron (the company had pulled out of Ecuador years prior). He testified in court to this fact, and his testimony was one of the pieces that led to an attorney's disbarment.

Environmental consultant discusses massive fraud in $9.5 billion Ecuador lawsuit against Chevron, revealing fabricated evidence and judicial corruption.

05/07/2025

The Combustible Dust Roundtable is coming up tomorrow! Register now for this insightful webinar:

https://bit.ly/4m4QGJv

04/15/2025

In this episode, Trish and Traci discuss two major BP incidents: the 2005 Texas City Refinery explosion that killed 15 workers when an overfilled tower created a geyser of hot raffinate that ignited, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion that killed 11 workers and caused the largest U.S. marine oil spill when cement failed to properly seal a well. Key factors included faulty equipment, misleading indicators, inappropriate safety messaging and failure to learn from near-misses. These tragedies led to industry-wide improvements, including standardized process safety metrics, occupied building risk assessments, and better hazard management.

Remembering the human toll of Texas City and Deepwater Horizon and applying those lessons learned can prevent similar tragedies. In this episode, Trish and Traci discuss two major BP incidents: the 2005 Texas City Refinery explosion that killed 15 workers when an overfilled tower created a geyser of...

04/02/2025

Need a break? Test your chemical regulations knowledge:

How well do you think you know chemical regulations? Take our 10-question quiz to find out!

12/20/2024

In his final news roundup of the year, Executive Editor Jon Katz highlights what’s trending in December, including the following: the global plastic pollution treaty stalls amid negotiations, DuPont loses its lawsuit secrecy bid, the EPA closes PFAS chemical review loopholes, Bhopal lessons persist and chemical facilities are warned about winter safety risks.

Listen to the podcast now >>

In his final news roundup of the year, Executive Editor Jon Katz highlights: Global plastic pollution treaty stalls amid negotiations. DuPont loses lawsuit secrecy bid. EPA closes PFAS chemical review loopholes. Bhopal lessons persist. Chemical facilities warned about winter safety risks.

12/10/2024

As we look back on the Bhopal tragedy of 1984 at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in India, Trish and Traci – along with special guest graphic novelist and chemical engineer Ramin Abhari, walk through many missteps that happened that day. The incident resulted from multiple safety failures: contaminated methyl isocyanate (MIC) storage, disabled safety systems and poor plant management. Abhari has created graphic novels to communicate the lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of inherently safer design, proper management of change and maintaining critical safety systems during plant decommissioning. Listen to the podcast now >> https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-cngwr-176551d



Read the full transcript here: https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/process-safety-w-trish-traci/podcast/55248282/podcast-butterflies-of-bhopal-lessons-written-in-blood

Chemical engineer Ramin Abhari’s graphic novels communicate the lessons learned from major process safety incidents.

12/06/2024

CP’s Traci Purdum recently chatted with BASF’s Anne Berg about her unplanned career path, her recent nomination to the Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame and horses.
Listen to this inspiring podcast now >> https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-dbk5z-175d5cd

You can also read the transcript here >> https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/voices/women-in-chemistry/podcast/55247463/basfs-anne-berg-credits-an-unplanned-career-path-for-her-success

Her journey exemplifies professional growth through curiosity, adaptability and seizing unexpected opportunities.

11/29/2024

Trending News: Trump and the Chemical Industry, Salary Survey and Job Satisfaction and Dog Bones and Process Safety

Grab a cup of coffee and leftover pumpkin pie and spend a few minutes going over the top news in the chemical industry with CP’s Executive Editor, Jonathan Katz. Listen now >> https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-6xmiz-174e03d

11/22/2024

Wish you had a few more hours in the day to complete all the tasks on your to-do list? Well, we can’t bend time, but Lauren Neal offers 5 strategies to help you make the most of the 480 minutes you have in a work day. Listen now >> https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-qwr6m-1744e8c

11/15/2024

President-elect Trump has been busy filling seats in his administration. What's in store for the chemical industry is as easy to pin down as nailing jello to a tree. But we did chat with a few folks in the industry to get their take on what the future may hold. Listen now. https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-e8jdi-173975b

11/12/2024

The latest Process Safety with Trish & Traci focuses on transient operations.
The latest Process Safety with Trish & Traci podcast focuses on transient operations.
Loss of control can lead to unscheduled shutdowns, and emergency situations may require immediate action. Learn six decision-making characteristics to master during a crisis. Listen to the podcast now.

Chemical Processing recently hosted a webinar on the importance of process safety during transient operations. Normal operations include continuous and batch processes, while abnormal situations involve plant upsets or deviations from typical parameters. Loss of control can lead to unscheduled shutd...

11/08/2024

End Friday by hearing about Tycho Brahe's drunken sword fight.
https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-eg2uu-172b9fd