There was a full house for the Environmental Managers Network Water Conference, held at CATCH on the 8^th February.

Abley directed by CATCH Board Members and industry chair, Martin Jones of Yara, the meeting started with a presentation from Humber Industrial Cluster Plan supplier Element Energy, who have conducted a piece of research into the 2050 water supply deficit in the Humber and the impact this may have on Carbon Capture and Hydrogen Projects. Conor O’Sullivan, Senior Consultant with Element Energy explained that water stress, climate change, water abstraction and population growth, all present barriers to deployment of hydrogen and CCS technologies if the current situation were not to change. Industries are likely to need to adopt a circular approach, optimise processes and find synergies within the Humber cluster to promote the efficient transfer of water around the region. Conor then explained how CCS and Hydrogen production and use, particularly cooling, will have a great impact on demand for water.  The full Water Study has now been published by HICP and can be found on their website at www.humberindustrialclusterplan.org

After questions, Martin welcomed Matthew Woollin a Technical Specialist with the Environment Agency, to present Humber cluster environmental constraints. Matthew talked about the EA’s two phase project – The Humber Pathfinder project, which concluded in April 2022, and the Environmental Constraints in industrial clusters phase 2, both funded by BEIS. Phase 2 looks at Air quality, flood risk management and water quality, particularly around hydrogen production and use and carbon capture.  Matthew went on to describe the research required to inform the report, such as atmospheric chemistry and deposition and how this will effect surface waters or land and water pollution including potential waste products from amine scrubbers. Matthew covered how the EA are undertaking work to understand how water demand will effect protected habitats.  The EA have conducted a literature review and led wide ranging stakeholder engagement with industry, local authorities and research groups.

After a short break Martin welcomed Simon Crane from Wave Utilities and Geoff Darch & Kevin Ensell from Anglian Water Services, who gave a joint presentation on water resources and future plans in the Anglian Water region.  There is a new demand and supply strategy in development, which includes two new reservoirs, one of which is to be located in South Lincolnshire. A new pipeline is also in planning to enable the transport of water to meet increased demands. Installation of smart metering for domestic and industrial customers will improve leakage detection and see demand in real time.  Water demand is increasing and the team is working on Anglian Water Service’s five year plan to Ofwat, which is due for submission on 29th March. Simon then made an impassioned plea for all decarbonisation deployment projects and industrial water users to come together and collaborate on water as one voice, to help inform the five year plan and ensure that region can continue to provide the water needed for all its customers.

The meeting was then closed by Martin and guests in the room were invited to stay for a networking lunch.  The Environmental Managers Network will hold its next meeting on Weds 7 June at CATCH.

CATCH hosted the first Human Factors Network of the year on 2^nd February.  Katie Hedges, Director of Membership, introduced the group’s new chair, Chris Marron,  Senior Human Factors Specialist at Yara Europe.  Chris welcomed Prof. Fiona Earle, Director, The Centre for Human Factors at the University of Hull.

Fiona introduced the topic of Fatigue and the range of work she has undertaken in this field.  Human Factors is an incredibly broad discipline covering many aspects related to human behaviour, our decision making processes and how to ensure we operate in the workplace safely and understanding how our workload affects our fatigue levels.  The science around fatigue is still developing and remains complex.  It is important to understand how fatigue impacts on health and safety risks and safety outcomes.

Our in person only workshop was very interactive and delegates had the opportunity to learn and share opinions and help shape their understanding of fatigue management.  The definition of fatigue is more than just feeling tired, it includes impaired processing and as fatigue levels increase it can be characterised by an aversion to further effort.  These different layers or aspects of fatigue can all be tested and measured in a scientific way to identify risks and find ways to support teams and individuals’ performance.  The deterioration over time due to lack of sleep can build up fatigue to more critical levels.

After a break, small groups completed a task to explore different industry job roles and capture all the potential impacts that could affect the levels of fatigue experienced by employees in that role.  The group recognised the impact of responsibility experienced by employees on shift work as they arrive on shift and inherit whatever is happening during shift handover.  The impact of balancing business needs with the team working on that shift and understanding how the time of day can sometimes be an important factor.

In summary, Fiona explained that on the surface, fatigue can be incorrectly characterised as just ‘tiredness’ and organisations rightly focus on managing shift patterns to best support shift workers sleep habits and recovery periods.  During the workshop Fiona was able to explore a wider range of factors that impact fatigue, including emotional fatigue, and advised that regular debriefing sessions can reduce levels of emotional fatigue in teams performing intensely focused tasks for extended periods, often away from home life.  Where organisations explore all potential causes of fatigue and review the effectiveness of control measures, it is possible to limit and prevent fatigue from reaching unmanageable levels.

The next CATCH Human Factors network will be held on 14 June.

Do you have something to say about skills?

We know that for you, as a local employer, that sourcing, developing, and retaining people with the right skills is a serious, ongoing challenge. It’s time for that to change. Through the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), a Department for Education programme, you have the chance to help shape the future skills profile of our Greater Lincolnshire & Rutland. Will you do your bit?

We are partnering with the Local Skills Improvement Plan delivery body, the FSB, to gain your input on this most critical issue. Together, we are consulting with employers like you across the area to really get under the skin of your current experiences and what skills you really want and need for your firms and your people to really thrive. Please make sure that view experiences and views are collected in the research so that our industry is well represented in the research report.

Please take part in the online survey – and be sure to share the link with your network. We need many, many responses to come in before 28 February 2023. Do not miss this chance to have your say.

https://habit5research.questionpro.com/lsip2023fsb?custom2=CatchUK

Click here to find out more about the Greater Lincolnshire & Rutland LSIP, including upcoming employer focus groups in Scunthorpe, Spalding, Skegness, Stamford, Woodhall Spa and other ways to get involved.

CATCH and SIAS have today announced an exciting new partnership to support apprenticeships in the Humber region.  

James McIntosh Chief Operating Officer from CATCH said: “I am delighted for us to be working in partnership with SIAS and recommending their EPA services to our group of employers.

“Since meeting Steve Smith and hearing his vision and strategy for how SIAS operates, there are a number of synergies between our organisations that will allow us to offer a bespoke end-to-end process operations and engineering maintenance apprenticeship tailored to meet our industry requirements.

“We are pleased to have found an end point assessment organisation that are as keen as we are to engage with employers and support their learners throughout their journey.”

Steve Smith, Managing director of SIAS said: “We are honoured that CATCH has selected SIAS to recommend to their employers as their EPAO of choice for the apprenticeship standards which they currently deliver across manufacturing, process and maintenance engineering.

“CATCH are really leading the way across the Humber, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and beyond, in the delivery and development of critical future skills particularly within the STEM and Renewables space, their mission aligns closely with what drives SIAS forward as the leading EPAO for technical Science, Manufacturing and Engineering Apprenticeships.

“Add to that a world class training facility, a level of ambition, of energy, and a commitment to real partnerships and to delivering outstanding value to employers which matches our own – and it was clear from day one that there was an incredibly strong synergy between our two organisations.

“I’m excited about working closely with James and the whole team at CATCH to deliver a truly innovative and best in market end to end apprenticeship model, which will both delight employers, but also importantly will give apprentices the very best experience possible, and allow them to maximise their undoubted potential as they transition into meaningful careers.”

The partnership comes into effect immediately.

CATCH hosted the Major Hazards Group on Thursday 3 November.  The group was attended by over 30 in person and online delegates and is an integral part of the core networks delivered for CATCH membership services.

David Hughes welcomed delegates to the meeting and introduced the first guest speaker James Jenkins, Region Segment Manager – Onshore Oil & Gas & Energy Systems at DNV Services UK.  James gave a presentation about General Hydrogen Safety Awareness including Hydrogen Hazards.  James compared the properties of hydrogen in comparison with methane and other similar gases.  A number of videos demonstrated the effect on outflow, fire and explosion hazards of hydrogen showing tests at specialist facilities.  James spoke about the importance of safer design and hazard management when dealing with hydrogen, recognising that at low concentrations (below 15%) hydrogen behaves in a similar way to other hydrocarbons.

The next presentation topic was from IChemE Project: Lessons Learned Working Group given by Tony Tate, Process Safety Advisor with bp.  Tony detailed the IChemE approach to major hazards management which is a priority topic. A working group has set up a project with the aim to enhance the impact of IChemE lessons learned resources, turning good practice into common practice.  Tony is keen to hear feedback about the resources available and how the group access and use this information.

After a break, Lyn Dario, Partner, Environmental & Regulatory at Tyr provided a Health, Safety and Environmental legislation and regulatory update.  Lyn provided valuable expert insights on recent environmental and HSE cases and enforcement trends.  The group discussed some of the challenges faced by the competent authority in recruiting and retaining resources.  For more information and support please contact Lyn.Dario@tyrlaw.co.uk

The next Major Hazards Group will be held on 16 March 2023 at CATCH.

CATCH core network groups are for members companies, for more information please contact katie.hedges@catchuk.org

We are pleased to announce that Mark Sacker, Tricoya, Rob Tuplin, Woods at Lindsey Oil Refinery, Dafydd Williams ABP, Simon Rafferty, EFAB and Nick Booth Uniper have been appointed to the CATCH Board of Directors.

Mark Sacker commented-

I have spent most of my working career with Singleton Birch Group, starting in 1998.  I have observed CATCH develop over a quarter of a century from a chemical focused training organisation into a more diverse organisation with wider scope spanning process and energy industries.  I have been involved with chemical, process, and energy businesses during my career.

CATCH is a networking hub for the most advanced industrial organisations in the UK.  It is an enabler of collaboration to bring together the common agenda for sustainable business in the Humber Region, exemplified by the Humber Cluster Plan.  It is also a focus on turning the tide on the engineering and process skills gap.  My teenage son recently attended the introduction to industry training at CATCH, which he was thrilled with.

I have recently moved to be Managing Director of the World’s first acetylated wood chip operations at Saltend Chemical’s Park in Hull, Tricoya, co-located with similar cutting edge industrial businesses driving the sustainability agenda.  It is my pleasure to bring my extensive industrial experience from both the South and North Banks of the Humber to contribute to the great work of the CATCH board.  I hope to make a difference in driving this great organisation forward to even greater things!

Free Training for ConCom Clients and Contractor Members – Mental Health First Aid Awareness. Taking place at CATCH on the 24th November, AM or PM Sessions available – please contact Jane for further details – jane.winship@catchuk.org or download the event flyer Concom Mental Health First Aid Awareness Flyer

The Annual ConCom Apprentice of the Year Awards were presented yesterday afternoon at CATCH!!

Our three worthy winners were congratulated and presented with their trophies by Ian Laverick, Novartis, ConCom Committee Chair. After, Paul Bevan, EP SHB, ConCom Vice Chair presented them with their prize money.

3rd place and with a cheque for £200, Charlie Flemming of EP SHB
2nd place and with a cheque for £300, Will Lambert of Prax LOR
ConCom Apprentice of the Year – 1st place, with a cheque for £500, was Matthew Lister of TesTex NDT Ltd

On behalf of the ConCom Team and Steering Committee – many congratulations and we look forward to seeing you have safe and long careers!

CATCH hosted the Major Hazards Network on Thursday 21 July.  The group was attended by over 20 in person and online delegates and forms one of the core networks for CATCH membership services.

David Hughes welcomed delegates to the Major Hazards Network and introduced our guest speaker Gus Carroll, CEO and Founder of Empirisys.  Gus presented details of the Energy Institute decarbonisation good practice programme.  The EI has established Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage as a new area of focus.  Gus outlined the 2021 Hydrogen work programme which received funding support from the Industrial Decarbonisation Research & Innovation Centre.  Work commenced in 2021 including subjects like competence, skills and training for the transition to hydrogen, environmental impacts of the large-scale deployment of hydrogen, development of a safety case for hydrogen storage and distribution by pipeline and Infrastructure integration & Asset integrity in repurposing existing natural gas infrastructure for hydrogen.

Gus outlined the range of new challenges presented by increasing use of hydrogen and its derivatives LH2, NH3, LOHC & MCH.  The safety impact for UK for these changes is extremely important during the energy transition and EI are leading this work through four further funded projects:

• Export & import of hydrogen and liquid derivatives
• Large scale storage of hydrogen
• Incident data management for QRAs and HAZOPs in the context of hydrogen safety cases
• Guidance on the development of safety case for hydrogen storage and distribution

Gus outlined future topics that are under consideration for funding in 2023.  The Energy Institute is keen to speak to companies at the fore front of the energy transition to help shape and direct their work.  If you are interested, please contact Mark Scanlon mscanlon@energyinst.org

Following a break Gus was kindly able to present on a separate topic of the COMAH Strategic Forum which was established in 2013 and Gus has recently taken over as chair of the Forum.  The CSF is comprised of the 3 competent authorities, COMAH sector representatives (including Trade Associations) and Unions.  The forum sets the longer term strategic direction for UK onshore major accident regulation.  The forum has been able to improve communication and knowledge exchange between the various stakeholders through guidance and good practice guides.

CSF current priorities include embedding principles of process safety leadership, greater transparency, driving proportionate regulatory scrutiny based on performance, clear standards and expectations and encouraging regulators to operate in a joined up way.  The CSF has recognised a number of drivers of change for COMAH regulated industries such as net zero targets, growth of new technologies such as hydrogen production and storage, ageing assets and ageing workforce challenges and embedding digital technologies.  Gus outlined the CSF’s response to these aspects shared some of the safety challenges that may arise from inexperienced operators and ambitious research institutions, not familiar with the regulatory framework whilst regulators are carefully managing budgetary constraints.  CSF are set to publish their 5 year strategy and are keen to engage a wide range of stakeholders through the CSF open forum on 14 November.

Empirys is an organisation that uses data science to help high hazard businesses operate more safely and more reliably.  The business is supported by a talented team of 12 data scientists, process engineers, asset operators and software engineers – more details are available here and via Gus Carroll gus@empirisys.io

The next Major Hazards Network will be held on 3^rd November at CATCH.

CATCH core network groups are for member companies, for more information please contact katie.hedges@catchuk.org