Implementing process safety education in a Chemical Engineering curriculum in southern Brazil: The role of an AIChE student chapter

Abstract This study highlights the significance of integrating process safety education into the Chemical Engineering curriculum. Chemical engineers handle hazardous materials and design intricate processes, relying heavily on equipment integrity. Therefore, providing chemical engineering students with knowledge and experience in risk assessment, hazard identification, and mitigation strategies is essential. Incorporating these process safety topics enables proactive accident prevention, safeguarding engineers, colleagues, the environment, and the public, while ensuring corporate economic security. Introducing these concepts early in their academic journey reinforces students' ethical obligation to prioritize safety throughout their careers. This work describes implementing process safety education into the Chemical Engineering curriculum at a private university in southern Brazil. The initiative was facilitated by establishing an American Institute for Chemical Engineers (AIChE) student chapter, providing access to professional resources. The challenges and successes encountered during integration are detailed, outlining curricular modifications, faculty development strategies, and student engagement methods. By disseminating this experience, we aim to foster the integration of process safety into the Chemical Engineering curriculum at other higher education institutions, boosting the next generation of professionals' knowledge and contributing to the consolidation of safety culture in Brazilian industry.