Process safety is not just what we do—it’s who we are.
MIKE SCHMIDT
PRINCIPAL
Mike and the team he works with at Bluefield Process Safety provide safety lifecycle consulting to the chemical process industries, both by working with industrial clients and by training others to do that work. His expertise includes facilitating HazOps and other forms of Process Hazard Analysis, facilitating Layer of Protection Analysis, working with organizations to establish Risk Tolerance Criteria, developing Safety Requirements Specifications for Burner Management Systems and other Safety Instrumented Systems, performing SIL verification calculations, and assisting with PSM compliance.
With a career in the CPI that began in 1977 with Union Carbide, Mike was profoundly impacted by the 1984 tragedy in Bhopal and has been working on process safety ever since. Mike founded Bluefield Process Safety in 2008. Since 2009, he has been on the faculty at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri, where he teaches undergraduate courses on safety engineering and process risk management, training almost a hundred engineering students every year.
Mike writes blogs on process safety and frequently publishes and presents articles and papers on process safety, particularly in the areas of Process Hazard Analysis, Layer of Protections Analysis, Risk Tolerance Criteria, and Safety Instrumented System design. Most recently, he authored “Making Sense of Risk Tolerance Criteria,” which was published in The Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries and “Atmospheric Tank Failures: Mechanisms and an Unexpected Case Study,” which was published in Process Safety Progress.
Mike received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla and a Master of Business Administration degree from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
(314) 420-9350
mschmidt@bluefieldsafety.com
Nathan Breshears
SENIOR SAFETY CONSULTANT
Nathan Breshears joined the Bluefield Process Safety team in 2019. Previously he worked for 2 years as a project engineer in the industry. He graduated from Missouri University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and uses the knowledge he gained in his consulting. He has spent the past 5 years at Bluefield advising clients through all aspects of the Safety Lifecycle. Nathan most enjoys his work facilitating PHAs and PSM Audits, where he can make Process Safety easy for those whose daily work is impacted by it.
In August 2024, Nathan received his PE license with the state of Missouri.
Outside of work, Nathan enjoys homebrewing, gardening and spending time with his dog.
(636) 373-1633
nbreshears@bluefieldsafety.com
Michael Smith
Safety Consultant
Michael Smith joined the Bluefield Process Safety team in 2020. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology. His attentive mind for safety grew out of a passion for understanding processes and the safety measures that make workers’ and the general population’s life easier. His drive doesn’t stop at the office, as he tries to keep up with industry changes outside of work and hone new skills to aide in that purpose. His prior experience in the smart utilities field and lab work has taught him that true drive and thoroughness is a practice that is paramount to success.
Besides work, Michael enjoys watching and playing sports, reading, and practicing his guitar when he has time.
(314) 852-4775
mbsmith@bluefieldsafety.com
Daniel Fox
Safety Consultant
Daniel joined the Bluefield Process Safety team in 2023. He graduated from the Missouri University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He developed an interest in process safety after taking Mike’s course, where he when he saw the opportunity it provided for applying his education towards safeguarding others. He most enjoys the portion of his work where design and process safety overlap, so that he can help find practical solutions to safety related problems.
Outside of work, Daniel enjoys playing guitar, weightlifting, and watching movies.
(314) 616-0342
dfox@bluefieldsafety.com
KAYLA WHELEHON
SAFETY SPECIALIST
Kayla began her career with Bluefield Process Safety in 2016. She completed her Bachelor of Science at Central Methodist University in 2011. Her interest in process safety began with the commencement of her husband’s career as a process safety consultant. She took an interest in his work and developed a process safety awareness of her own. Kayla obtained her 10-hour OSHA card in 2016 and is now working alongside experienced safety consultants continually studying process safety and hopes that her work will have an impact on the safety of others.
Outside of work Kayla enjoys traveling, watching hockey, and spending time with her dogs.