Elements of Process Safety

[An earlier edition of this paper was first presented at the “International Conference and Workshop – Process Safety Incidents,” 2000, organized by the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS)] The need for effective root cause analysis is finally gaining the spotlight in the chemical process...

Although the potential consequences of combustible dust explosions are becoming more widely known, the potential consequences of combustible dust fires are sometimes overlooked. The CSB investigated three incidents involving combustible iron dust at Hoeganaes Corporation. Two people died from burns...

The CordenPharma Colorado, Inc. (CPC) site in Boulder includes at least eight production facilities. The majority (six) are production laboratories and pilot plants, with synthesizers and vessels of a few liters to a few thousand liters. All of the production process systems are connected to at...

This presentation and paper will focus on how PHAs can be conducted using a minimal amount of resources, while still maintaining high quality results that are sustainable and in accordance with AICHE-CCPS publication guidance (and in accordance with regulations). In the fall of 2010, I made a...

Recent catastrophic dust explosions, the combustible dust National Emphasis Program (NEP), and OSHA proposed rulemaking, have increased awareness of combustible dust hazards in industry. This presentation provides an overview of combustible dust. The presentation will provide a summary of recent...

Solids Processing of dry particulates of various forms and shapes within unit operations ranging from milling to mixing, crystallization to drying involving storage, handling and conveying results in the generation of electrostatic charging. This accumulation of charges on the particulates is due...

The focus of most laboratory experiments and piloting operations is the development of a new, innovative chemical process or the improvement of an existing chemical process. These activities are designed to, and focus on, evaluation of the intended chemistry for the process being studied. The...

A release of flammable substances can result in various fire or explosion events depending on whether there is an immediate or delayed ignition. Although developments have taken place in producing fit-for-purpose ignition models, there remain significant uncertainties, including how to identify the...

Major process safety incidents may occur infrequently, but when they do occur, the consequences can be severe. Corporate performance goals are such that an individual site or facility could operate for many years without a classified Process Safety Incident (PSI) and still be at risk by operating...

A surprising number of process incidents occur due to a lack of general understanding of process hazards and lack of basic hazards assessment, subsequently resulting in the absence of or inadequate Process Hazards Analysis (PHA) to provide appropriate safeguards for minimizing process risks...