Improving the knowledge in process safety through S2S

The improvement of the chemical process safety is still a real objective not only for its effect in human health and sustainable industrial development but also for the necessity to increase the industrial competitiveness around Europe. The European network "S2S, a gateway for plant and process safety" aims to organise safety information for chemical processes in a reference point: http://www.S-2-S.org in order to maintain safety awareness. The design of this web portal has been elaborated in a way that the information can be easily encountered and accessible. At this end, it has been created an experts staff, which have organised the information in eight chapters: Safety management, human factors, explosions, industrial fires, chemical reactions, measurement methods, protective equipment, and material safety data sheets. In each chapter, the S2S team is structuring the available information in some items like specialised websites, standards, norms, and legislation, good practices, self-assessment tools, software to identify potential accidents or learned lessons. In addition, the web portal contains a glossary, which includes the common terminology used in process safety. All these terms are organised also in a structured list or a logical tree to provide like a guide to all those users not very well familiarised on all safety aspects. In addition, a short definition is included for each term, and for some subjects, classical references are cited. This structured list has been prepared to be used friendly by people in small and medium enterprises, in small production sites and in all places in which human resources is a scarce resource. Moreover the network is looking for the needs of industry on safety, to propose specific research subjects. This activity is being developed from two fronts; one by preparing a map with the most existing knowledge; and the second, by collecting directly from the industry its needs on safety research. Both results are being crossed in order to prepare a "Strategic Research Agenda", supporting thus to fulfil the objectives of the Technology Platforms for Industrial Safety both European and Nationals. This communication comprehends the development of the logic structure designed, and its multiple interconnections.