ASM Defined

This part of the ASM® website provides a detailed description of the problem of abnormal situations in the chemical processing industry.
The ASM Consortium promotes their vision by conducting research, testing and evaluating solutions that develop and advance the collective knowledge of the members, and by directing development of tools, best practices, and services that facilitate the conversion of ASM knowledge into practice.
A detailed definition of what an abnormal situation is and how it relates to process operations.
The challenges facing the industry in handling abnormal situations. These are described in the context of the anatomy of a catastrophic incident.
A discussion of the key sources or causes of abnormal situations, including people and work context factors, equipment factors, and process factors.
A discussion of the disruptive and financial impact of abnormal situations on the chemical processing industry.
Learn how the ASM Consortium evolved from 1994 to present.