ASSP Gulf Coast Chapter – North Section Meeting: November 2026

ASSP Gulf Coast Chapter – North Section Meeting, Thursday, November 19^th
Sam Houston State University, The Woodland Center, Rm TBD
3380 College Park Drive, Conroe, Texas, 77384

TOPIC: The Safeguard Was There. Why Didn’t It Prevent the Fatality?

SYNOPSIS:

What Major Incidents Reveal About the Assumptions Behind Serious-Harm Prevention

Major incidents rarely occur because organizations are unaware of hazards or have no safeguards in place. More troubling is when safeguards exist but fail to prevent serious harm because the assumptions supporting their effectiveness are incomplete, outdated, or untested.

Drawing on major incident investigations, including BP Texas City and Tesoro Anacortes, this presentation challenges conventional approaches to hazard analysis, critical controls, and safety assurance. Attendees will explore how technical, human, and organizational factors can undermine established protections and learn five practical questions for determining whether critical safeguards remain effective under actual operating conditions.

SPEAKER:

Simon Goncharenko, PhD, CSP, CSHO
Founder, Save Lives Global Research Institute

Simon Goncharenko, PhD, CSP, CSHO is the founder of Save Lives Global Research Institute and Global Director of Environmental Health & Safety at Serverfarm. With more than 30 years of experience across construction, oil and gas, and mission-critical infrastructure, he has held senior leadership and advisory roles supporting complex, high-risk operations, including hyperscale data center development.

An author, researcher, and educator, Simon focuses on human performance, organizational resilience, and the prevention of Serious Incidents and Fatalities. He is the author of Save Lives: Pushing Boundaries in Human Factors and serves on national safety committees, including the ASSP Z359.4 Subcommittee and the Society for Total Worker Health Advisory Committee.

His recent research examines how changing operating conditions and untested assumptions can undermine critical safeguards, challenging organizations to move beyond documented compliance toward demonstrated protection against serious harm.

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT FOR LUNCH IS ONLY ONLINE
NO PAYMENT AT THE DOOR – IN-PERSON LOCATION

AGENDA

11:00 am to 11:30 Networking & lunch

11:30 am to 11:45 am Welcome & Section Business

11:45 am to 12:45 pm Presentation