Tributes paid to safety pioneer Trevor Kletz 04 November 2013

Safety pioneer Trevor Kletz passed away yesterday (Sunday 3 November) at the age of 91.

Kletz was one of industry's most respected figures following a celebrated career as an industry safety advisor, lecturer and writer.

From 1944 to 1982, Kletz worked for ICI, and in 1968 he was appointed one of the process industry's first technical safety advisors, with a broad remit that included advising designers and operators about how to avoid hazardous process plant accidents.

On leaving ICI, he built a second career as a process safety consultant, writer and lecturer. He was elected a Fellow of IChemE in 1978, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1984 and awarded an OBE for services to process safety in 1997.

Kletz authored 14 books and more than 100 peer-reviewed papers on process safety. He remained active professionally until earlier this year where a formal retirement reception was staged at IChemE's Hazards 23 conference in Southport, UK.

"Trevor's impact on industry was striking. His ability to convey safety information succinctly, and effectively, was central to his success," comments IChemE (Institution of Chemical Engineers) president and HSE chair Judith Hackitt.

"On behalf of IChemE, I extend our sincere sympathies to his family and friends. We will ensure the memory and work of Trevor lives on within the chemical engineering community."

IChemE chief executive David Brown says that the impact of Kletz's work will be felt for many years.

"Trevor unquestionably saved lives. There are people working in the process industries today who will go home safely to their families and loved ones, thanks to Trevor. He had a profound impact on industrial safety."

Brian Tinham

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