31/07/2009
Refinery and Petrochemical Plant Construction Costs Falling
27/07/2009
Site Closure
25/07/2009
Site Closure
22/07/2009
H1N1 Swine Flu - Is Industry Prepared?
According to a recent report by the Ernst and Young Item Club, a London based think-tank, swine flu could devastate the UK economy.
Apparently swine flu could cause Britain's economy to shrink by 7.5% this year and dash hopes of recovery next year. According to Peter Spencer, chief economic advisor to the Ernst & Young Item Club "If the worst-case scenarios of the threat of swine flu are fully realised, gross domestic product could fall by as much as an additional 3% this year and another 1.7% in 2010”.
If this is true for the UK, then the same could apply to all major economies.
It is now widely acknowledged that the virus cannot be contained so management strategies are necessary.
From discussions with my contacts, it seems that across the industry, levels of preparation vary significantly, ranging from no preparation at all, to providing a handful of anti-bacterial sprays to having a full business continuity plan in place.
Regarding the latter, best practice is to carry out a thorough risk assessment based on the various possible scenarios for the spread of the infection. Plans need to be in place for dealing with employees, for operational planning in case of widespread absence and for possible supply chain disruption.
Whilst this is a considerable exercise and will take time and effort to perform well, it is much easier to implement such a plan if it has been well thought through in advance.
21/07/2009
Operating Problems Hitting Chemical Producers
15/07/2009
Serious Explosion at French Petrochemical Plant
Record Numbers to Study Chemical Engineering in UK
Despite my previous post flagging job losses in the US Chemical sector, it is interesting to report that applications to UK Chemical Engineering courses have reached an all time high. Figures show that 10,068 applications have been made this year; a year-on-year increase of 18%. Numbers have doubled since 2001. I'm interested to know the trend in other countries. Comments from a US based colleague suggest that this in not the case there. Certainly the UK Institution of Chemical Engineers has played its part with a very effective campaign called Whynotchemeng. Undoubtedly Chemical Engineering is a degree that provides a very good platform for a wide range of careers both within and outside the chemical industry. Whatever the reason for the surge, this has to be good news for an industry which has voiced major concerns over the availability of skills for the future.