Romualdo Marrazzo from ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) will be presenting at Hazardex Live! 2023 on the enforcement and monitoring of sites during COVID, with particular reference to the inspections on SMS (Safety Management System) of process industry establishments subject to the obligations of Legislative Decree 105/2015 (transposition decree of Directive 2012/18 / EU, so-called Seveso III).

Starting from the problem of conducting inspections during the pandemic, it explains the alternative method introduced by the Italian Competent Authorities to ensure the continuity of the activities, in compliance with the standard procedure. It consists of performing some phases remotely, identifying what can be done through documentary examination and what must be done on site.

Information on the status of the establishments in pandemic conditions are given, with a focus on process industry case studies as crude oil extraction/process centre and oil refinery (considered strategic activities by the Italian legislation enacted during the pandemic). The management continuity of operational activities was ensured, with no interruptions to processes and no changes to significant SMS procedures (i.e. confirmation of the implementation of the measures provided for in the emergency plan).

In addition, company measures for the prevention and containment of the virus diffusion are listed, in terms of work reorganization measures for operational staff and non-operating personnel, as well as access procedures at the site and contrast and virus containment in application of COVID-19 protocol and “Contingency Plan”, in agreement with the workers’ unions.

The paper ends with the lessons learned from the inspections activities, with attention to non-compliances issued concerning the respect of frequencies for training, the contents of training activities carried out in "remote" mode, the consultation with worker representatives and the compliance with timing/frequency of maintenance activities. The strengths and benefits of the new inspection method is at last explicit, thus allowing the continuation of the control activity to be ensured.

Romualdo Marrazzo

Romualdo Marrazzo works at ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) in the Service for Risks and Environmental Sustainability of Technologies, Chemical Substances, Production Processes and Water Services and for Inspections. He holds a Master's degree in environmental engineering and is a national expert qualified as a Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Specialist.

Romualdo provides technical and scientific support to the Environmental Ministry for the Seveso directives, and he is concerned with international implementation of Seveso directives on behalf of the European Commission Committee of Competent Authorities (EC-CCA). He conducts: integrated assessment of major accidents in industrial areas; risk analysis and area impacts; analysis and evaluation of the risk of dangerous chemicals and human exposure through the environment; and, training for inspectors and industrial risk analysts. He also conducts inspections on various national industrial installations concerning Seveso and IPPC-IED directives, on a regular basis and after an accident.