Search form

Elements of Process Safety

The four pillars and the twenty elements of risk based process safety can be designed and implemented at varying levels of rigor to optimize process safety management, performance, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Major Turnaround in An Olefins Plant: A Process Safety Point of View

Apr 4, 2012
Pablo Ricardo Barrera
The process safety management in an industrial plant is a critical success factor for companies integrated in a global market. The equipments should have maximized performance and operational runlenght without compromising process safety. The challenge for excellence performance drives companies to...

Fatal Exposure: Tragedy At DuPont

Apr 4, 2012
Marc G. Sáenz
This investigation by the United States Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) provides unique lessons in process safety. Three incidents occurred over a 33-hour period at the DuPont plant in Belle, WV. The most serious incident occurred on January 23, 2010, when a release of highly...

Evaluation of Dispersion Models for LNG Siting Applications

Apr 4, 2012
Andrew Kohout
The federal safety standards for LNG facilities under 49 CFR Part 193 approves the use of specific dispersion models for performing vapor-gas dispersion exclusion zones. In addition, provisions allow for the use of alternative models if approved by PHMSA. In 2010, PHMSA, in consultation with FERC,...

Societal Risk Criteria and Pipelines

Apr 4, 2012
Joan M. Schork
The discussion of societal risk criteria for the process industry began in the 1970's, led primarily by the Dutch and British governments. Most of the discussion, however, has centered on fixed facilities. The literature on the societal risk of hazardous goods transportation, particularly by...

Two Incompetent Workers; Too Close for Comfort ñ Part 1

Apr 4, 2012
Mike Broadribb
Learning from experience is one of the four pillars of Risk-Based Process Safety. Incidents that occur at one facility often provide opportunities to strengthen management systems at other facilities. Sharing the technical lessons learned from incidents is morally right and vital to improving...

Proven in Use (What's the Quality of Your Data)

Apr 4, 2012
Harold W. Thomas
To perform LOPA's, fault tree analysis, SIL verifications and other quantitative likelihood analyses requires data. As much as everyone wants data, it always seems to be elusive or lacking in quality. This paper explores various issues that the authors have experienced when dealing with end user...

Explosions in Transformer and Circuit-Breaker Tanks Due to Arcing Events

Apr 4, 2012
Timothy L. Morse
Industrial transformers and circuit breakers operate with large voltage differences between current-carrying internal components and the grounded tank walls. A breakdown in the dielectric strength of the insulating oil in the tank due to contamination or other causes can lead to the formation of an...

More LOPA Misapplied: Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

Apr 4, 2012
Karen Study
Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) continues to be more and more widely utilized in the Petrochemical and other industries. LOPA is a “simplified” tool, which is true relative to tools such as Quantitative Risk Assessment and Fault Tree Analysis. However, simplified does not mean simple on an...

Pages

Subscribe to Elements of Process Safety