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The 2025 agenda brings you once again in-depth content and relevant topics supported by meaningful business advice. The conference theme of “Managing Engineering Excellence: Safety and Integrity Challenges since 1950” will be fully explored by a roster of industry experts.
Delegates can look forward to a series of thought-provoking papers focused on a diverse range of issues such as:
- Machine learning and AI in NDT
- Human Factors and Safety Management Systems
- Behaviors that deliver process safety leadership
- Alarm Management
The programme will also provide ample opportunity to participate in lively debate in the form of interactive workshops, which will be centered on a choice of three conference streams:
- Leadership
- Mechanical, Pressure and Structures
- Electrical, Instrumentation and Control
Day One - Wednesday 26 March 2025
| Time | Description | Location |
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| 09:00 - 10:50 | Registration, Professional Networking, Exhibition |
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| Opportunity to visit the exhibitor stands and catch up on what’s happening in your industry | ||
| 11:00 - 11:10 | Welcome |
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| 11:10 - 12:00 | Keynote 1: Internal culture and the effect on work and wellbeing: The connection between them - Andrew Webster, Motivational Speaker | |
| This presentation explores how an organisation’s internal culture profoundly influences both the quality of work and the well-being of its employees. It will focus on the ways in which a positive, inclusive and supportive culture can enhance productivity, job satisfaction and mental health. Attendees will gain insights into creating environments that foster engagement and motivation, and learn about the detrimental effects of toxic cultures. | ||
| 12:10 - 13:00 | Breakout sessions - A | |
(A1) The Regulator's expectations of Leaders of High Hazard Installations |
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| This presentation will explore the pivotal role that leaders play in maintaining safety standards within the UK’s high hazard industry. The presentation will delve into the expectations set by regulators for high hazard installations (e.g. COMAH tier sites), emphasizing leadership’s accountability in risk management, regulatory compliance, and fostering a safety-first culture. | ||
(A2) Management of defined life Repairs: A lifecycle guide |
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| This presentation offers a comprehensive look at the best practices for lifecycle management of defined-life repairs, based on guidance from EEMUA. It will highlight key principles from EEMUA’s publication, including assessing repair needs, implementing appropriate temporary solutions, monitoring repair integrity, and planning for permanent fixes. | ||
(A3) Ageing Plant - Safety critical elements and life extension of electrical components |
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| This presentation addresses the challenges and strategies involved in managing the electrical components of ageing industrial plants. The focus will be on maintaining the integrity of safety-critical electrical elements and exploring options for extending the operational life of these systems. Attendees will gain insights into best practices for assessing the condition of electrical infrastructure, implementing preventative maintenance, and making informed decisions on upgrades or replacements. | ||
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch |
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| 14:00 - 14:50 | Breakout sessions - B |
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(B1) Maximising team engagement - Building an effective and inclusive team |
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| The presentation explores the diverse motivations of individuals and the impact of team culture on their productivity and well being. It will explore strategies for creating an inclusive work environment to enhance collaboration and overall workplace harmony. Key focus areas include effective communication, people development, the need to manage organisational change, and the benefits for integrity and process safety management. These themes are addressed in the EEMUA AILC (Asset Integrity Leadership Certificate) training course of which the first cadre is ongoing. | ||
(B2) Competencies required for Hydrogen damage mechanisms |
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| This presentation provides an overview of the competencies that EEMUA Members see required to effectively manage processes and equipment that may be subjected to effects from Hydrogen Damage Mechanisms (HDM). Incidents related to HDM will be discussed, insights from the research conducted on behalf of the Hydrogen Forum will be shared, and a sneak preview of the forthcoming online training course on HDM will be shown to attendees. | ||
| (B3) The role of machine learning and AI in Non-Destructive Testing | ||
| This presentation will highlight the transformative potential of AI and machine learning in NDT applications. It will explore how these technologies enhance defect detection, data analysis, and predictive maintenance, offering significant improvements in efficiency and accuracy. Attendees will gain insights into practical applications while also discussing the limitations. | ||
| 15:00 -15:50 | Breakout sessions - C |
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(C1) Preparing leaders for the energy transition: Adjusting to challenges |
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| This presentation zeroes in on the critical role of leadership in guiding end users through the energy transition. The speaker will share the importance of resilient leadership to overcome regulatory hurdles, mitigate operational risks, and drive sustainable practices to achieve a smooth and effective energy transition. | ||
(C2) Bolted Joints - The journey to bolt integrity management |
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| This presentation delves into the critical importance of ensuring bolt integrity from a global onboarding perspective. Attendees will gain insights into adopted practices, common pitfalls, and innovative solutions in bolted integrity management. Key focus areas include effective monitoring and maintenance strategies, and the importance of a proactive approach to bolted joint integrity to prevent failures and enhance safety. | ||
(C3) Alarm Management - EEMUA 191 |
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| There are multiple challenges in alarm management but many of them can be addressed by careful integration of systems – which provides other benefits too. This presentation describes development of a system which connects alarm data (alarm rationalization/alarm classification data) together with online control system (DCS) data, effectively potentially revolutionizing maintenance and management of change. This will not only create a real master alarm database but also create a master DCS database. Alarm suppression definitions and logic are also included in the system. | ||
| 15:50 - 16:10 | Break & Networking |
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| 16:10 - 17:00 | Keynote 2: The Impact of AI on industry – have you asked your computer yet? - Jonathan Low, CEO, Scope Inspections Ltd | |
| This presentation explores the transformative influence of AI on organisations, particularly in high hazard industries. It will examine how integrating AI can enhance operational efficiency, decision-making, and innovation, while also highlighting the potential security threats AI poses. Attendees will gain insights into the benefits of AI adoption, including predictive maintenance and automation, as well as the challenges, such as safeguarding against cyber threats and ensuring the robustness of AI systems. | ||
| 17:00 - 18:00 | Mezzo plenary
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| Professional Networking and visiting exhibitor stands | ||
| 18:30 - 19:00 | EEMUA Council Reception |
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| 19:00 - 19:30 | Event Reception |
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| 19:30 - 21:30 | Dinner & Networking |
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| 21:30 - 22:00 | Entertainment |
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| 22:00 - 24:00 | Drinks at the bar |
Day Two - Thursday 27 March 2025
| Time | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 - 09:50 | Keynote 3: Challenges with the Energy Transition and Growing Use of the Distribution Network - Anton van Rosmalen, Project Risk Manager, TenneT Offshore GmbH | |
| This plenary session tackles the complexities of moving away from traditional electricity production towards integrating renewable energy sources into the grid. The focus will be on the challenges of adapting the distribution network to support a sustainable energy future. Attendees will gain insights into the technical, regulatory, and operational hurdles faced during this transition, as well as strategies to enhance grid flexibility and resilience. | ||
| 09:50 - 10:10 | BREAK |
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| 10:10 - 11:00 | Breakout sessions - D |
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(D1) Human Factors: Improving safety by understanding the human influence on overall system performance |
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| This presentation examines the integration of human factors to managing safety risks in major hazard industries. It will explore how understanding the factors that influence human reliability and performance can lead to a better understanding of how systems function overall. Attendees will discover how to harness the strengths of human performance, mitigate risks from its limitations, and design systems where human and technical elements work seamlessly together for enhanced safety and efficiency. | ||
(D2) Factors to consider when managing the mechanical integrity of dead legs on industrial facilities |
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| The presentation will focus on the critical aspects of maintaining the mechanical integrity of dead legs (sections of piping or equipment not in regular use) highlighting their potential vulnerabilities. Attendees will gain insight into challenging existing assumptions, refining procedural scope, and applying best practices. Key focus areas include risk assessment, regular inspections, and the implementation of monitoring techniques to ensure long-term safety and reliability. | ||
(D3) Battery Energy Storage Systems |
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| This presentation delves into the electrical facets of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) technology. The focus will be on the design, operation, and integration of these systems within the power grid. Attendees will gain insights into key electrical considerations, such as battery chemistry, power conversion systems, and grid connectivity. Key focus areas include efficiency optimization, energy management strategies and the role of BESS in enhancing grid stability and reliability. | ||
| 11:10 - 12:00 | Breakout sessions - E | |
(E1) Management of change and project governance |
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| Management of change (or ‘MoC ) is a key element of an organisation’s process safety management system and correct implementation is essential to maintain safety and to minimise risk. Where ‘MoC’ is not properly implemented then serious incidents, with associated loss of life, have occurred. This session reminds us why ‘MoC’ is so important with a review of key industrial disasters. Current relevant legislation and associated ‘good practice’ is highlighted as are the challenges of aligning project governance with ‘MoC’. The importance of leadership responsibilities and policy ownership are also discussed. |
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(E2) Ageing Plant - Integrity management and life extension of wind turbines |
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| This presentation tackles the pressing challenges of managing ageing wind turbines and explores the end-of-life options. There will be a focus on maintaining mechanical safety-critical elements and strategies for extending turbine life. Attendees will gain insights into best practices for evaluating the condition of ageing turbines, implementing life-extension techniques, and considering end-of-life options such as repowering, refurbishing, or decommissioning. | ||
(E3) Electrical Distribution & Electrical Infrastructure - Introduction |
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| Sometimes it's useful to step back and look at the wider picture. That's the idea of this session: Electrical Distribution for people who aren't from an electrical discipline, or who are, but simply want to know more. After all, we're talking about the largest electrical machine in Europe. | ||
| 12:00 - 13:00 | LUNCH |
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| 13:00 - 13:50 | Breakout sessions - F |
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(F1) Behaviours that deliver the Principles of Process Safety Leadership |
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| This presentation focuses on essential behaviours that leaders within organisations should embody to promote a safety-first culture. It will highlight the critical role of leadership in driving process safety, emphasizing behaviours such as proactive risk management, transparent communication, and consistent commitment to safety protocols. Key focus areas include building trust, empowering employees to voice safety concerns, and integrating safety into everyday decision-making processes. | ||
(F2) Structural Integrity Management - The importance of effective maintenance of civil infrastructure |
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| This presentation underscores the critical role of maintaining civil assets in process, industrial, and production environments. It will highlight best practices from EEMUA’s publication 238 on the lifecycle management of civil assets. Attendees will gain insights into strategies for ensuring structural integrity, including regular inspections, preventative maintenance, and timely repairs. | ||
(F3) Hydrogen safety |
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| Hydrogen has enormous potential as a fuel: clean, potentially green and energy efficient. However, safe use of hydrogen has long been difficult to ensure - it isn't just like any other fuel. It wasn't such a problem when the group of users was small, technically well-informed, and routinely handled only small quantities. But soon that is likely to change, which means that a far wider community will need to be aware of hydrogen's special properties, the risks which come with them and how to avoid them. | ||
| 14:00 - 14:50 | Keynote 4: Action beyond compliance: A survivor of the 1988 Piper Alpha disaster - Steve Rae, Director, Fortitude | |
| During his talk Steve recounts his experience from that night on Piper Alpha and shares lessons that everyone involved in Major Hazard Environments can learn from. He brings home, in an extremely impactful manor, how we can influence our worksite safety culture. Steve’s presentation will leave you questioning your own personal contribution to safety. The following quote received by an attendee at one of his talks sums up how his involvement has inspired and motivated others to question their own commitment to safety: “Steve’s talk should be mandatory for all those working in our industry and is the most impactful training experience I have had in my 20-year career”. See here a short video with a message from the man himself. |
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| 14:50 - 15:00 | Staying connected and updated on EEMUA. |
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| 15:00 - 15:15 | Close |