Join Us

We are seeking contributing authors with significant applied experience and a passion for process safety to take part in this ambitious project.

What is Lees’ about ?

Since 1980, consecutive editions of this book have been recognized as The Process Safety Reference book, both in industry and academia.

The 4th edition presents a comprehensive review of nearly all aspects of process safety, with an extensive set of references to published papers.

However, only a limited number of practitioners working in the process industries actively consult this wealth of knowledge.

This may be due to the sheer volume and completeness of the information provided, discouraging those in need of practical solutions to urgent issues.  The 5th edition strives to change that as it will be structured to satisfy the needs of all practitioners, from beginners to professionals involved in everyday process safety, to experts that want to dig deeper into process safety knowledge.

So, what is our vision of Lees’ 5th Edition?

The planned three volumes in Lees’ Ed. 5 will provide an overview of  current process safety knowledge and relevant methods. In view of the rapid knowledge gain this century a full rewrite is required.

· It will differ from other books by explaining relations between various concepts and approaches instead of describing isolated items.

· Chapter outlines will identify why the chapter is needed and what issues will be tackled.

· Body texts will explain why simple solutions do not cover all aspects satisfactorily (hence the limitations) and what improvements have been proposed in recent years.

· The reader then will learn what problem calls for which method:

- proven methods with their applicability domain and limitations

- overview of academic and other literature on advanced methods.

· Lees'5 will summarize many books on industrial process safety. It will provide for young readers important findings of the past and for old readers the process safety and risk prediction developments of the last decades. 

· Lees’5 will not only look back on what has been achieved but will also prepare for future developments of energy transition, with decarbonization, electrification, and new processes. 

· Lees’ 5 will have the combined character of review, textbook and guide. One could call it a ‘Handbook’, both internally and externally hyperlinked.

What is needed for this endeavor to succeed?

Content:

Authors, authors, authors! 

Experienced practitioners, with - especially for volume 1 - industrial experience

· able to compile a compelling text on a defined topic.

· dominating that topic and reflecting on state-of-the-art practices in various parts of the world (i.e., not only citing procedures and working methods from their own company).

· willing to share their knowledge to the benefit of the process safety community.

Project organization:

The book is divided into three volumes:

· Volume 1 – Process Safety Practice

· Volume 2 - Process Safety Science and Technology

· Volume 3 - Process Safety Incidents and Learnings

A core group of knowledgeable editors and reviewers with various backgrounds ensures:

· coherent set-up of each volume (relationships between various concepts and approaches)

· relevance and quality of contributions

· storyline from relatively simple analysis and solution methods to more sophisticated approaches

Geographically diversified contributors (meaning from all over the world):

· Authors will write under their own name and affiliation, which is mentioned directly below the main title of the chapter, just as in a published paper.

· Reviewers’ names and affiliations will also be acknowledged.

Timeline: this is a multi-year undertaking, and the tentative timeline is given below

Publication:

MKOPSC and Elsevier will ensure user-oriented publishing and promotion.

Sponsorship

The project is sponsored by the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center (MKOPSC) and its director, Dr. Faisal Khan, with direct support from two staff members, Dr. Zaman Sajid, and Dr. Tanjin Amin.

Chief Editor

The chief editor is one of the most knowledgeable process safety experts in the world: Dr. Hans Pasman.