Creating Deeper Understanding for Safety Principles in the Field

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s Industrial Safety Systems Engineering class visited its second chemical engineering facility this semester to deepen students’ understanding of safety systems and guidelines used in the field. The first tour the class attended was to the OxyChem facility in Ingleside, Texas, and the most recent tour took them to the OXEA facility in Bishop, Texas. 

Mechanical engineering student Guy Massey ’26 joined his classmates on the tour. Massey noted that the OXEA facility was much smaller than the OxyChem plant, as OXEA primarily produces a single product while OxyChem manufactures many. Despite differences in size and product output, he said the safety procedures and guidelines used at both facilities were largely the same. 

“The principles that we've learned in the Industrial Safety Systems Engineering class can really apply anywhere within the industry,” Massey said. "If you want to excel in the industry, you need to know the safety procedures.” 

Through these industry tours, students in the Industrial Safety Systems Engineering class have gained exposure to the real-world applications of the safety principles they study in the classroom. By comparing facilities of different scales and production focuses, they have strengthened their understanding of how foundational safety practices remain consistent across the industry. Through experiences like these, students are not only enhancing their technical knowledge but also preparing to enter the workforce with a deeper appreciation for the critical role safety plays in every operation.