부산대학교 도서관

The petrochemical industry is of significant importance and value to both the KSA and the UK, but, although there are many similarities and differences between the two environments, there have been few, if any, studies which directly compare them in terms of PSM legislation, working practices and corporate policy. This research aims to address this knowledge gap, by comparing the process safety management (PSM) systems in the petrochemical industries of the KSA and the UK, in order to identify the key points of commonality and divergence in safety legislation and corporate safety policy between the two countries, and to determine the role of national culture in accounting for any differences. The research concludes by identifying ways in which both countries could learn from the other in the development and/or implementation of PS and its procedures in the petrochemical industry. In order to gather data for the research, a mixed methodology was employed, using a questionnaire and in-depth interviews. In order to obtain views and perspective which are representative of the full management structure, participants were selected from all levels of management, and data was triangulated to highlight points of convergence, divergence and complementarity. The findings identify some significant ways in which both countries could learn from each other, particularly in terms of the relative benefits of open-loop (no learning from feedback mechanisms) and closed-loop (feedback-driven development) systems, and the different ways each country deploys and engages with legislation, safety practices and national culture. The study also identifies a gap between the two countries in relation to 'institutional thickness', which can play a key part in economic development, and highlights differences and similarities between the two systems in relation to gender and safety culture. Finally, the research makes recommendations in the areas of education, motivation, legislation, regulation, and PSM.