About the Center

Chemicals play a key role in today’s high-tech world. The chemical industry is linked to every technologically advanced industry. Only a handful of the goods and services we enjoy on a daily basis would exist without essential chemical products.

Chemicals are big business in Texas. The state’s chemical complex is the largest in the world. The industry provides jobs for more than 85,000 Texans, and the state’s chemical products are shipped worldwide at a value of $15 billion dollars annually.

The use of chemicals is a two-edged sword. Safe use creates a healthier economy and a higher standard of living. Unsafe use threatens our lives, our businesses and ultimately our world. For this reason, working and living safely with chemicals are the ultimate focus of the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center.

The Center was established in 1995 through the generosity of Houston businessman T. Michael O’Connor. His vision and the mission of the Center is to improve safety in the chemical process industry.

The Center conducts programs and research activities that enhance safety in the chemical process industries. The Center’s educational activities promote safety as second nature to everyone in the industry. In addition, the Center develops safer processes, equipment, procedures and management strategies to minimize losses within the processing industry.

Overview Brochure (pdf)