Lancaster University’s third-year Chemical Engineering students recently took part in an intensive one- day industry and hazard expertise workshop, reinforcing the critical role of safety in modern engineering practice.

Organised by Dr Basu Saha, Director of Studies for Chemical Engineering, in collaboration with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Safety and Loss Prevention (S&LP) Special Interest Group (SIG), the workshop brought together industry professionals to provide students with real-world insight into process safety principles and Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) methodology - core competencies for safe and sustainable industrial operations.

The workshop was led by Helen Conlin of the IChemE S&LP SIG and supported by 13 practising process safety engineers from a range of organisations, including Rolls-Royce, Urenco, Syngenta, Environment Agency, RAS, Cairn Risk Consulting, and ESR Technology. Their expertise provided students with real-world insight into hazard identification, risk assessment and safety management in complex industrial systems. Their hands-on experience and collaborative approach made the workshop both engaging and highly informative – an impact clearly reflected in highly positive student feedback.

The day combined focused lectures and career insights in the morning with hands-on HAZOP studies in the afternoon. Working in eight design subgroups, students analysed process scenarios, presented their findings to industry professionals, and received constructive feedback.

Helen Conlin, Process Safety Manager at Cairn Risk Consulting, said: “It was a great pleasure to spend the day at Lancaster University with Chemical Engineering students delivering a Process Safety Workshop on behalf of the IChemE Safety and Loss Prevention Special Interest Group. This is the fourth year we have run the workshop at Lancaster. We had an outstanding team of volunteers from multiple and diverse organisations, and the students were excellent in engaging throughout the day. The HAZOP group presentations at the end of the workshop were a particular highlight, with the prize for the best HAZOP team being very closely contested. We are already looking forward to returning next year.”

Dr Saha, said, “The insights gained during the workshop will be directly applied to students’ third-year Chemical Engineering design projects. The event provided a valuable opportunity for students to engage with practising process safety engineers and to explore potential industrial placement opportunities. By integrating industry engagement into the curriculum, Lancaster continues to prepare graduates who design not only for performance and efficiency, but also for safety, responsibility, and real-world impact.”