---
title: Should Process Safety Practitioners be Independent?
description: Why independence is critical in process safety activities. Learn how unbiased facilitation improves HAZOP ensures compliance, and reduces risk.
image: https://blog.safetysolutions.co.nz/hubfs/Should%20Process%20Safety%20Practitioners%20be%20Independent.jpg
---
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# Process Safety Blog
# Should Process Safety Practitioners be Independent?
[Paul Feltoe](https://blog.safetysolutions.co.nz/author/paul-feltoe)
Apr 1, 2026, 11:15:41 PM
In operating environments, we constantly are trying to balance several goals which often can be in conflict from each other. These include trying to strike a balance between meeting production & financial requirements and between managing safety, environmental and reputation risks. As a safety professional, one role we have is to ensure safety gets the appropriate level of attention. Being independent from the operational & financial aspects of running a business supports the integrity of these decisions.
#### **Why Independence Matters in Process Safety Activities**
| **Potential Weakness** | **Potential Mitigation** |
| --- | --- |
| Facilitator direction is influenced by economic drivers of engineering consultancy | Experienced facilitator verified by owner (less experienced facilitators more likely to bend to economic pressures) Safety Team independence from project team. Project Manager not allowed to attend safety workshops. Owner requirement for independent facilitator |
| Time & Effort levels influenced by project requirements | Operating company specifies safety study quality and time requirements. |
| Good practice application (of safety processes) not adopted based on limited knowledge and exposure of operating company and engineering consultancy. | Operating company understands good practice and sets direction. Experienced facilitator verified by owner. Owner requirement for independent facilitator |
To mitigate against the potential weaknesses of a “cost first” model, owners’ organisations often engage independent specialists to support the process and close the expertise gaps that may exist in their own organisation.
#### **Best Practices to Ensure Independence**
A quick checklist to help you assess the independence of your process safety facilitator.
[](https://blog.safetysolutions.co.nz/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKDt23pha4rr53k5Q4ici6nJgpyRgIgK0%2BCFN67RJYd%2B41nVa1oCqD%2Ft%2FCuLhLOlo8CuSVCArH4waiJbL5vBLQwsOnRj7qaacH8yES9QaX%2F79wkAQp5JgPstw6IdcHrZWARMw6JUCBDWuxcE5pI%2FNEn%2FeedCXGlV1Ifykc4VwYA9PwoVH%2FcsMyCWuD95IFOOfsqFc28yTNGG%2BmLWEKb23EYhdQmV5ybg0RaezuETMQQ1P85RISEMLdw&webInteractiveContentId=319064203762&portalId=2135719&hsLang=en-nz)
##### **Ready to take your process safety strategy to the next level?**
[](https://blog.safetysolutions.co.nz/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKp7rEvSh5Y%2FlqqFLzqQLXonYevQy%2B%2Fh4MwyZy111kuuVtcKSM9VV%2BpMiME8eWyoCF4MWwHqDJlRvgLzUTuE3e1GIj9pVZtc2jI38s8pAjvwXx69gI1iV2%2FpfONuXL1OBkJtG6Nx%2BB6Kl9HpIfKZGBkY7%2BksSO0ZsJKzUHsJtB5r8P3VFXmRiepBUwxLJz8OQ1erVBppO5TQHOZ8rUKOvgp&webInteractiveContentId=374332922301&portalId=2135719&hsLang=en-nz)
[](https://blog.safetysolutions.co.nz/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLLxRPKxqjm9I%2BSR5WHIZg1GzXxsFIIRkOt35B32wz7zhIXIgYprMl3bRLELNel%2FWHAjdE%2BD5JL69rzNvG8vXClJjSFUPE6U0%2FlPwUvPiNlVTT0L9bbCZsZYtfCycW2fm9W2MIYqFy3ZOjyBUw2yqrydgmSgPn7jKEKLLhHbKi0k0AKyBkUVr0%2FPPIELzJnBq8wZC3zYiXKk6fE%3D&webInteractiveContentId=374286791130&portalId=2135719&hsLang=en-nz)
[Bowties](https://blog.safetysolutions.co.nz/tag/bowties), [LOPA](https://blog.safetysolutions.co.nz/tag/lopa), [HAZOP](https://blog.safetysolutions.co.nz/tag/hazop)
## Read On
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### [Revalidation Is Not Renewal: Ensuring Process Safety Studies Reflect Current Facility Risks HAZOPs, Bowties, LOPAs, and SFAIRP Assessments are often treated as finished products. In...](https://blog.safetysolutions.co.nz/revalidation-is-not-renewal-ensuring-process-safety-studies-reflect-current-facility-risks?hsLang=en-nz)
### [What Qualifies as a Control in Process Safety? Across many types of safety assessment activities, we are invited to consider how a hazard scenario...](https://blog.safetysolutions.co.nz/what-is-a-control-in-process-safety?hsLang=en-nz)
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