Teaching the Course “Preventive Planning and Protective Measures in the Surroundings of Industrial Plants” as Adjunct Professor
It was a great pleasure to work with one outstanding group of international master’s students within the course “Preventive Planning and Protective Measures in the Surroundings of Industrial Plants (580.337)” at the Technical University (Montanuniversität) of Leoben in Austria, Department of Environmental and Energy Process Engineering – Safety & Disaster Management (SDM), where I serve as an Adjunct Professor.
This master-level course provides an in-depth understanding of the entire spectrum of industrial and technological hazards that may arise within industrial facilities and their surrounding environments — including fires and explosions, toxic and corrosive releases, structural failures, domino effects, and natural hazard-triggered (NaTech) events such as earthquakes, floods, and extreme winds.
The course begins by introducing students to the concept and classification of industrial disasters, covering technological, NaTech, and domino events. Students explore their causes — technical failures, design errors, human and organizational factors, and external natural triggers — and their consequences for people, infrastructure, and the environment, such as toxic releases, overpressure, fires, and cascading failures.
Building on this foundation, students are trained in hazard identification and risk assessment, using qualitative and quantitative methods supported by geospatial tools and sensor data. They learn to design preventive and protective measures, including engineering barriers (containment, detection, pressure relief), management procedures (standard operating procedures, lockout–tagout), personal protection, and off-site solutions such as land-use planning, evacuation routes, public warning systems, and environmental monitoring.
Further modules strengthen preparedness and response capacities through the development and testing of emergency and evacuation plans, simulation of command and coordination structures according to the Incident Command System (ICS), and practical exercises for multi-agency cooperation involving police, fire-rescue, and emergency medical services.
Finally, the course addresses post-incident recovery, including rapid and long-term repair, damage and needs assessment, reconstruction priorities, environmental remediation, and transparent public communication. All components are grounded in European and international frameworks such as the Seveso III Directive, the Basel and Aarhus Conventions, and relevant ISO standards.
It was truly inspiring to exchange knowledge and experiences with this one group of diverse and motivated students from across the world — each contributing valuable perspectives on industrial safety, disaster risk management, and resilience building.
