Optimization of recertification intervals for PSV based on major accident risk

Overpressure is a major hazard in the process industry with the potential to lead to a major accident. Pressure Safety Valves (PSVs) are often used as the last layer of protection against such a hazard and require regular recertification in order to be dependable. The valve safely vents gas from a vessel when the pressure becomes excessive. It is often the practice in industry to apply one or two years as the normal recertification interval of PSV. However, experience from the Norwegian oil and gas industry is that the recertification process several times have caused leaks of gas. The process thus represents a certain risk in itself and the question is then whether the recertification intervals presently being used actually are optimal from a risk point of view? The objective of this paper is to look into this problem, applying typical data from an oil and gas installation. An optimal recertification interval will be calculated based on minimization of risk to personnel.     

Challenges and proposals for managing major accident risk through the planning process

Major accidents are characterized by complex causal patterns with many factors influencing the occurrence of such accidents. The causes can be found not just in the execution of the work, but also in the preparations and planning before performing the work. In this paper, we have identified a set of challenges related to planning that may influence major accident risk. The basis is theoretical and partly empirical. The theoretical part is from a study of major accident theories. The empirical part includes studies of investigation reports, interviews and a workshop. The challenges identified can be grouped into four main topics including inadequate plan, inadequate planning, inadequate shared overview and understanding and late risk identification. The challenges have subsequently been addressed through a set of proposed improvements, which are aimed at improving the planning process to better manage major accident risk.     

Societal risk assessment of major hazard installations using QuickRisk

QuickRisk is a quantitative risk assessment tool developed at the Health and Safety Laboratory for use in assessing societal risk around onshore major hazard installations to inform land-use planning decisions. It uses release scenario information, parameterised consequence models, weather data, and population data from the National Population Database (NPD).This paper describes enhancements to the NPD methodology to include workplace populations. It describes the novel numerical, graphical and geographical representations of societal risk produced by QuickRisk. F–N data are analysed in terms of scenario FN curves and Delta PLL vs. N curves, where PLL is potential loss of life. The Delta PLL curves could be useful for comparison of FN curves against FN criterion lines or other FN data on a PLL basis. Geographical representations generated from PLL density maps show: the distribution of PLL dominating release scenarios or the percentage of risk contributed by the PLL-dominant release scenario, the maximum number of fatalities associated with the worst-case event, and the associated release scenario. Geographical representations are also generated of the maximum population that would meet a PLL density criterion, and the relative population change that would match a given PLL density criterion.These novel representations of societal risk could be useful for more effective communication between stakeholders on the risk levels in the vicinity of major hazard installations.     

Integrating major accidents hazard into occupational risk assessment: An index approach

Major Accident Hazard (MAH) and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) are two separated topics in both industrial practice and legislation; recently, interest is increasing toward an integrated risk assessment mainly forced by the tendency to a more efficient safety management system. The present study proposes a semi-quantitative approach to integrate MAH in OSH risk assessment. The two risk types are characterized by opposite features: the OSH analysis is usually task-based and focused on job profiles, while the MAH analysis is space-based and focused on plant characteristics. The basic idea of the proposed approach is to merge spatial information and job profile features in order to improve OSH assessment; thus, a risk index derived by the recent standard ISO 12100 (2010) has been adapted. In detail, the proposed index combines exposure times of each worker at each plant unit – derived from the OSH analysis – with damage areas derived from MAH analysis allowing a quantitative assessment of the MAH risk level for each individual job profile. The model has been tested in a large petrochemical plant; several hypotheses have been developed in order to validate the model. Results have showed the potentiality of the proposed approach in providing a common and coherent representation of both MAH and OSH risks, according to job profiles and plant units.     

矿山重大危险源评价及瓦斯爆炸事故伤害模型建立的若干研究

基于危险源评价的基本原理 ,结合系统论的观点与矿山重大危险源的实际 ,确立了矿山重大危险源伤害模型的合理假设和简化 ,并在此基础上 ,首次提出了从危险源系统事故的伤害模型来研究矿山矿井瓦斯爆炸事故的严重度方法 ;并结合矿井瓦斯爆炸事故的实际 ,建立了瓦斯爆炸事故冲击波的伤害模型。使得目前人们通常认为无法对矿井瓦斯爆炸事故严重度研究进行建模成为可能 ,这无疑是对矿山重大危险源评价工作和瓦斯爆炸事故研究的一次重大创新和完善     

基于风险梯度的化工企业事故风险定量评估

为了定量分析区域内重大危险源所构成的风险,为事故风险防控提供科学依据,基于风险场理论对某区域内2家化工企业进行风险分析,得出2家企业所对应的风险值计算公式,并生成2家企业所对应的风险等值面和风险等值线;引入最速下降法,利用负梯度搜寻风险的最快下降方向,得出事故的最优风险降低路径.研究结果表明:甲企业中接近1/2的区域为...     

基于风险防御的机场跑道事故风险控制研究

在风险管理程序中,风险辨识和风险评估是风险管理的基础,而风险控制才是风险管理的最终目标。只有通过风险控制才能实现降低风险水平的目的,才能体现风险管理的全部意义。跑道运行涉及的人员、设备众多,是航空地面事故的多发环节,因而对跑道事故风险进行控制是具有一定意义的。在对现有风险控制方法分析的基础上,提出了基于风险防御的跑道事故风险控制,构建了跑道事故风险防御体系,指出了风险控制的思想重在事故发生前的预防。从技术研究(从具体的事故影响因素角度出发)和组织支持措施(从机场安全管理全局的角度出发)两方面进行跑道事故风险的控制。最后,对风险防御技术进行了研究。从风险控制的角度,为预防跑道事故的发生提供理论依据和指导。     

基于风险熵的化工园区事故风险突变模型研究

为准确判断化工园区事故风险演化进程,基于风险熵理论分析化工园区系统风险状态,从影响园区系统风险熵的不同因素出发,根据化工园区公共区域和企业端的各自特点建立风险熵指标;利用尖点突变理论,用矩阵表征多参数多时刻的风险熵增和熵减值,建立化工园区熵增、熵减计算模型;根据计算结果判断事故风险状态。将所提出的方法应用于某化工园区,结果表明:在该园区某危化品储存企业丁二烯泄漏情况下园区系统风险熵发生突变,由泄漏引发二次事故的风险骤升,需要采取相应安全措施。分析结果与实际情况相符合。     

An algorithm for assessing the risk of traffic accident

INTRODUCTION: This study is aimed at developing an algorithm to estimate the number of traffic accidents and assess the risk of traffic accidents in a study area. METHOD: The algorithm involves a combination of mapping technique (Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques) and statistical methods (cluster analysis and regression analysis). Geographical Information System is used to locate accidents on a digital map and realize their distribution. Cluster analysis is used to group the homogeneous data together. Regression analysis is performed to realize the relation between the number of accident events and the potential causal factors. Negative binomial regression model is found to be an appropriate mathematical form to mimic this relation. Accident risk of the area, derived from historical accident records and causal factors, is also determined in the algorithm. The risk is computed using the Empirical Bayes (EB) approach. A case study of Hong Kong is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. RESULTS: The results show that the algorithm improves accident risk estimation when comparing to the estimated risk based on only the historical accident records. The algorithm is found to be more efficient, especially in the case of fatality and pedestrian-related accident analysis. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The output of the proposed algorithm can help authorities effectively identify areas with high accident risk. In addition, it can serve as a reference for town planners considering road safety.     

基于Hankel-DMD的城市交通事故风险时空预测*

为解决城市交通事故风险时空分布预测任务中时空关联性捕捉困难的问题,提出基于动态模态分解（DMD）的城市交通事故分析时空预测模型,模型利用总最小二乘法去除交通事故数据中的噪声,应用结合Hankel矩阵的动态模态分解模型（Hankel-DMD）捕捉交通事故风险的时空关联性,对交通事故风险的时空分布进行预测。研究结果表明:DMD框架能够为高维预测任务提供低秩解决方案,从高维数据中捕捉时空关联性;Hankel-DMD模型在预测评价指标平均绝对误差和均方根误差方面的表现明显优于统计学及机器学习等方法;Hankel-DMD模型产生的动态模态和特征值,对事故风险系统的时空动态特征具有一定的可解释性,同时验证Hankel-DMD模型的适用性。     

Role of beliefs in accident and risk analysis and prevention

This paper mainly deals with an old psychological theme, i.e., the impact of comprehensive reference systems such as belief systems and culture on safety and accident prevention. It is hypothesized that an understanding of the beliefs people hold about risks and the causes of accidents, as well as their perceptions of risk targets and the need for safety, are important prerequisites for effectively managing risk and designing preventive measures. This viewpoint is posited to be highly crucial today, especially in this era of globalization where workers from different backgrounds are relocating, and increasingly complex technology is being exported. Illustrations are given for both developing and developed countries. Different factors are shown to cause bias in accident explanation and risk perception. Among these, people’s beliefs about their own ability to cope and also their culture are described as important factors. Both defensive explanations of accidents and illusory or biased risk perception are shown to influence safety assessments and to have important implications for defining the best preventive actions and for writing relevant preventive communications.     

Regulations of major accident hazards control in Serbia and their implementation

The paper presents a brief summary of contents and implementation of the current Serbian regulations on the prevention and control of major accidents involving dangerous materials. Further, it discusses issues connected with implementation of the regulation, including inspection, review, and approval of safety reports. This regulation comprises legal requirements and methodological guidelines for risk analysis and preparation of emergency plans. Although the roots of the Serbian regulation are basically in the Seveso I Directive, this study revealed significant differences compared with current regulations and practice in Europe.     

海底隧道交通事故风险耦合演化机理研究

为明晰海底隧道交通系统内部风险因素之间的耦合关联和事故演化机理,从驾驶人、道路、车辆、环境和管理5方面阐释海底隧道风险因素内涵,定性分析风险因素之间的耦合作用,建立海底隧道交通事故风险演化立体网络模型,提出海底隧道风险因素量化评价标准;并构建海底隧道交通事故风险耦合尖点突变模型,深入分析海底隧道交通系统风险状态演化的主...     

Systemic accident risk assessment in air traffic by Monte Carlo simulation

A systemic accident model considers accidents as emergent phenomena from variability and interactions in a complex system. Air traffic risk assessments have predominantly been done by sequential and epidemiological accident models. In this paper we demonstrate that Monte Carlo simulation of safety relevant air traffic scenarios is a viable approach for systemic accident assessment. The Monte Carlo simulations are based on dynamic multi-agent models, which represent the distributed and dynamic interactions of various human operators and technical systems in a safety relevant scenario. The approach is illustrated for a particular runway incursion scenario, which addresses an aircraft taxiing towards the crossing of an active runway while its crew has inappropriate situation awareness. An assessment of the risk of a collision between the aircraft taxiing with an aircraft taking-off is presented, which is based on dedicated Monte Carlo simulations in combination with a validation approach of the simulation results. The assessment particularly focuses on the effectiveness of a runway incursion alert system that warns an air traffic controller, in reducing the safety risk for good and reduced visibility conditions.     

Operational risk assessment: A case of the Bhopal disaster

Accidental releases of hazardous chemicals from process facilities can cause catastrophic consequences. The Bhopal disaster resulting from a combination of inherently unsafe designs and poorly managed operations is a well-known case. Effective risk modeling approaches that provide early warnings are helpful to prevent and control such rare but catastrophic events. Probability estimation of these events is a constant challenge due to the scarcity of directly relevant data. Therefore, precursor-based methods that adopt the Bayesian theorem to update prior judgments on event probabilities using empirical data have been proposed. The updated probabilities are then integrated with consequences of varying severity to produce the risk profile.This paper proposes an operational risk assessment framework, in which a precursor-based Bayesian network approach is used for probability estimation, and loss functions are applied for consequence assessment. The estimated risk profile can be updated continuously given real-time operational data. As process facilities operate, this method integrates a failure-updating mechanism with potential consequences to generate a real-time operational risk profile. The real time risk profile is valuable in activating accident prevention and control strategies. The approach is applied to the Bhopal accident to demonstrate its applicability and effectiveness.     

低概率重大事故风险与定量风险评价

论述应用定量风险评价(QRA)对评价、控制低概率重大事故风险的重要意义.介绍了低概率重大风险范畴与主要来源,QRA技术的主要用途与基本方法,研发与使用QRA计算重大风险的主要技术程序.提出了在应用QRA评价重大风险时应注意的几个主要技术问题.     

地铁火灾二次事故BP神经网络安全评价方法研究

基于能量转移理论、多米诺效应理论等相关理论对地铁火灾二次事故概念进行界定,并分析地铁火灾二次事故的演化机理,确定地铁火灾条件下易发的二次事故类型;建立了地铁火灾二次事故安全评价指标体系,通过BP神经网络的安全评价方法对地铁火灾二次事故进行量化分析。     

Air Traffic Management accident risk. Part 1: The limits of realistic modelling

The prime goal of the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system is to control accident risk. Some key questions are posed, including: What do design safety targets really mean and imply for risk modelling? In what circumstances can future accident risk really be modelled with sufficient precision? If risk cannot be estimated with precision, then how is safety to be assured with traffic growth and operational/technical changes? This paper endeavours to answer these questions by an analysis of the nature of accidents, causal factors and practical collision risk modelling. The main theme is how best to combine sound safety evidence and real-world hazard analysis in a coherent and systematic framework.     

EU initiative on the control of major accident hazards arising from pipelines

The European Council and the Parliament recognised that pipeline accidents had occurred in Europe and worldwide, which clearly indicated the `major accident hazard' potential of pipelines. The present paper presents an overview of the Community Policy on the control of major accident hazards arising from pipelines, summarises the Commission review/assessment of existing legislation on pipelines within the Member States and outlines the principles on which a possible EU initiative should be based. The review has shown that many Member States do not have comprehensive `major accident hazard' legislation in place for pipelines and therefore an EU initiative would complete existing industrial risk management legislation, based on the `precautionary principle'.     

Thermal risk in batch reactors: Theoretical framework for runaway and accident

Thermal safety and risk of accidents are still challenging topics in the case of batch reactors carrying exothermic reactions. In the present paper, the authors develop an integrated framework focusing on defining the governing parameters for the thermal runaway and evaluating the subsequent risk of accident. A relevant set of criteria are identified in order to find the prior conditions for a thermal runaway: failure of the cooling system, critical temperature threshold, successive derivatives of the temperature (first and second namely) vs. time and no detection in due time (reaction time) of the runaway initiation. For illustrative purposes, the synthesis of peracetic acid (PAA) with hydrogen peroxide (HP) and acetic acid (AA) is considered as case study. The critical and threshold values for the runaway accident are identified for selected sets of input data. Under the conditional probability of prior cooling system failure, Monte Carlo simulations are performed in order to estimate the risk of thermal runaway accident in batch reactors. It becomes then possible to predict the ratio of reactors, within an industrial plant, potentially subject to thermal runaway accident.