Primer: International Process Safety Regulations (2nd Edition)

This primer provides a concise and structured overview of how major accident hazards are regulated around the world. It explains the foundations of process safety regulation, compares national and regional systems, and highlights global trends that are reshaping expectations in the process and energy industries.

Written for engineers, operators, safety professionals, and policy analysts, it serves as an accessible reference for anyone who works across international boundaries or must understand how regulatory regimes differ in scope, structure, and maturity.

Topics covered include:

•        The hierarchy of laws, regulations, codes, and standards and how they function in practice.

•        Differences between prescriptive and performance-based regulatory models

•        Regulatory agencies in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, China, Norway, Russia, and the Middle East

•        The role of Safety Cases, Safety Declarations, and major hazard controls

•        International convergence around risk assessment, barrier management, mechanical integrity, and emergency preparedness

•        The influence of major incidents on regulatory evolution and enforcement

•        Emerging trends such as cybersecurity, digital monitoring, energy-transition hazards, and real-time barrier management

The primer includes a knowledge-check quiz to support training and professional development.