Management walk-arounds: Lessons from the Gulf of Mexico oil well blowout

Many companies understand that good management requires senior managers to spend time with front line workers. Some companies build into performance agreements for senior managers a requirement that they conduct a certain number of such site visits each year. The challenge is to make productive use of these visits. Safety is often a focus for visiting VIPs, but too often safety is understood to be a matter of “slips, trips and falls”, rather than the major hazards that can blow the plant or the rig apart. This paper will examine a VIP visit made to the Deepwater Horizon rig by senior managers from BP and from the rig owner, Transocean, just hours before the explosion. It will argue that, despite their best of intentions, these managers fell into the trap identified above. The paper looks at things that senior managers can do to focus attention on the most significant hazards.     

隧道救援站通风网络优化设计及人员疏散研究*

为确定铁路隧道救援站最佳通风结构，对烟道布置提出合理建议，采用计算流体力学（CFD）的方法，对铁路隧道救援站通风网络进行优化设计。同时，采用模拟计算的方法对救援站人员疏散进行模拟分析，确定救援横通道布置及防护门开度设置的合理性。研究结果表明:在同等通风参数工况设置下，采用多节点排烟竖井结构后各救援横通道流量分配更均匀，救援站压力平衡性更好，通风效率可提升15%；通过疏散模拟证实，在长560 m的紧急救援站范围内设置10条疏散横通道，横通道设1.7 m宽的逃生门能够满足疏散要求。     

关于危险化学品重大危险源分级的研究

在重大危险源死亡半径分级法的基础上,引入经济密度和人员密度,并给出不同情况下相应的计算方法。然后以＂最大危险原则＂和＂概率求和原则＂为财产损失和人员伤亡计算的原则,以《重大危险源分级标准（征求意见稿）》中的分级标准为标准,对危险化学品重大危险源进行分级,这样进行危险源分级时,可将周边环境中可能波及到的财产损失和人员伤亡考虑进去,使得危险化学品重大危险源分级考虑的因素更加全面,分级的结果和实际情况更加吻合。本文的研究结果对危险化学品重大危险源分级具有一定的参考价值。     

高校图书馆消防安全疏散数值分析

以国内某高校图书馆为实例,利用FDS和Pathfinder对该图书馆进行火灾及人员疏散全尺寸模拟。研究图书馆发生火灾时烟气扩散、温度分布及能见度对人员逃生的影响。主要方法为通过火灾模拟软件FDS模拟分析发生火灾时的可用安全疏散时间(ASET),并使用疏散模拟软件PathFinder计算所需安全疏散时间(RSET),进而判断图书馆目前管理状况是否满足火灾时的人员安全疏散需要。结论表明:该图书馆目前管理状况不能满足火灾条件下人员逃生的需要,而影响人员安全疏散的主要因素为烟气的扩散。在研究结果的基础上提出改进建议,为图书馆日后的管理及灭火救援提供理论依据。     

1种基于CCRP火灾情况下的动态疏散算法

为在火灾发生时给逃生人群规划最优的安全疏散方案，基于CCRP算法开发1种火灾情况下受容量限制的动态疏散算法。该算法模型将发生火灾的建筑布局信息表达成节点连接弧形式，鉴于可预测危害蔓延对火灾逃生过程中疏散通道封锁时间的影响，为建筑网络图上的节点赋予“危险时刻”属性，逃生人员通过节点的时刻必须小于该节点的“危险时刻”才能规避火灾危险；基于eclipse软件平台，通过动态疏散算法与相似Dinesh算法应用实例对比仿真分析，验证基于CCRP的动态疏散算法的可行性与优越性。结果表明:通过该算法计算出的逃生路径保证逃生人员在最短时间疏散出去；且其具有安全性高和耗时少等优点。     

城市高层建筑火灾消防及安全逃生策略研究

针对当前城市高层建筑消防的严峻形势及火灾威胁安全逃生的现实问题,从高层建筑的特点分析其火灾的特点,即火势猛、蔓延快、疏散难、伤亡重、结构耐火性差、灭火救援难等,进而提出需从导致高层建筑火灾的设计、管理、装修等环节处着手,从源头上预防和杜绝火灾,将灾害后果降到最低程度。特别强调,若有人身处高层建筑火灾威胁之中,面对突如其来的灾难应立足自救互救,走出误区,采取明智的安全逃生策略,有效地降低人员的伤亡。     

The oil and gas industry,the competence assessment of Offshore Installation Managers (OIMs) and Control Room Operators (CROs) in emergency response,and the lack of effective assessment of underpinning technical knowledge and understanding

Within the UKCS offshore oil and gas industry there exist key personnel who perform critical roles in an emergency as part of the installation's emergency response team (ERT), two of these personnel are the Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) and the offshore Control Room Operator (CRO). The OIM is responsible for the safety and well-being of all persons onboard and within 500 m of the installation. Should an emergency situation arise, the OIM performs one of the most critical roles in emergency response - management of the response to the emergency to mitigate and make safe the installation to secure a place of safety for persons onboard or organise their safe evacuation. Such emergency response shall also include limiting the loss of hydrocarbons to the environment. The CRO monitors and interprets the output from an installation's Distributed Control System (DCS) and Fire and Gas Panel (FGP), responding to alarms and deviations from steady state. In many instances, an offshore CRO's actions in response to these deviations can determine whether or not the situation deteriorates into a disaster. Should an emergency occur, the CRO will act in accordance with an installation's emergency response procedures and OIM instructions.The persistence of incidents, a number leading to disasters, in the industry highlights the importance of both OIM and CRO competence in controlling emergencies. Both positions require an effective system to assess the competence of job holders. Research at the University of Aberdeen identified potential barriers that can prevent the effective competence assessment of an OIM in emergency response. An extension to this research analyses the two offshore industry standards for competence in emergency response: OPITO 7025 – OIM Controlling Emergencies and OPITO 9004 – Control Room Operator Emergency Response, and associated documentation, applying a critical hermeneutic approach, focusing on the assessment of underpinning knowledge and understanding within the roles. The key findings are that there currently exists no effective means to assess the underpinning technical knowledge and understanding of either OIMs or CROs in emergency response within the offshore industry. Knowledge and, in particular, understanding are poorly defined within the relevant OPITO standards. There exists no validation of evidence collated to support an individual's underpinning knowledge and understanding and no truly independent audit of collated evidence or the process of assessment.The research is important to Duty Holders (see also OSD Installation Operators under UK Offshore Safety Directive Regulations) and employers within the offshore oil and gas industry, organisations associated with the offshore industry, safety engineers and UK Government departments with regard to the effectiveness of competence assessment of appointed OIMs and CROs. It is also significant to risk engineers when considering the probable competence of key emergency response personnel in a given environment at a given point in time. The research is not just applicable to the UKCS offshore industry but also to the global offshore oil and gas industry.     

Dynamic numerical simulation of coal mine fire for escape capsule installation

Fire in mine laneway leads to disordered ventilation system airflow, and smoke will result in staff poisoning. In such situation, it necessitates to install a rescue capsule in the common staff area. In this paper, the software Fluent was used to simulate the airflow conditions dynamically in No. 5 belt roadway of Kongzhuang Coal Mine when fire broke out. The migration law of CO front was determined. By underground escape experiments, personnel escape velocity model in pathway was established. Based on the numerical simulation and results of field experiments, the escape capsule installation location in the passageway of No. 5 belt roadway was ascertained.     

教研楼火灾逃生疏散最优通风方式数值试验研究

高校教研楼潜在火灾源与高密度人流共存,火灾逃生疏散是保障灾后人身安全的重要环节。为探索火灾逃生疏散最优逃生条件,应用流体动力学分析软件FLUENT,数值分析防火分隔导致多种通风方式的起火分区温度、烟气场分布规律,研究火场逃生疏散的最优通风方式。结果表明,火灾初期开启防火分隔设施更有利于人员逃生疏散;关闭防火分隔设施条件下,防排烟系统开启略优于关闭;研究背景条件下,开启防火分隔为逃生疏散最优方案;火灾后关闭防火分隔设施可以控制火灾蔓延,降低财产损失,但应在确保人员安全疏散后进行。     

生产作业区重大危险源评估方法研究

危险源是危险的根源,是系统中存在的可能发生意外释放能量的危险物质,开展重大危险源评估工作可有效预防和控制生产作业区重大安全事故的发生,保障人民群众生命财产安全,同时也为生产作业区安全监督管理提供依据。以某生产作业区为例,研究了生产作业区重大危险源辨识标准及分类分级方法,研究了重大危险源安全现状及危害等级的安全评估方法,指出了企业在重大危险源安全管理上应采取的安全技术措施和安全管理措施,为提高生产作业区安全管理水平,制定重大危险源专项应急预案提供了依据,上述辨识和评估思路和方法可为其他企业借鉴参考。     

重大危险源辨识若干问题的探讨与研究

根据GB18218—2000《重大危险源辨识》标准,在重大危险源定义和分类的基础上,从物质的固有能量和诱发能量两方面考虑,提出了以当量法来确定重大危险源的方法。首先简介我国现行的重大危险源辨识标准,进而分析了GB18218—2000《重大危险源辨识》标准所存在的若干问题,并进行了研究与探讨;从能量的观点出发,证明了某些压力容器、压力管道和锅炉应确定为重大危险源,应进行登记和实施监控。研究的成果为进一步开展全国重大危险源普查工作和重大危险源辨识标准的修订提供了有效途径和理论依据。     

GIS在大型石化企业事故应急管理中的应用

在研究化工企业事故应急处理技术和地理信息系统的基础上,建立了事故应急管理系统。应用该系统进行风险管理,能方便、准确地表示、录入、检查及查询企业内各危险源的地理位置和属性信息;动态模拟各种燃烧、爆炸、泄漏事故发生、发展状况;给出相应的应急处理方案和人员疏散最佳路径。事故应急管理系统可为企业的安全生产、事故预防、事故应急救援的科学决策提供技术支持。     

Fire and explosion at mutual major hazard installations: review of a case history

In industry, it is common that there are independent but related major hazard installations which compliment each other. The link between the major hazard organizations is an interface between the installations. This interface is a critical area for the mutual major hazard installations. Examples of such organizations are chemical cargo ships and their terminal storage yard, the supply vessels and platforms, floating storage tanks at offshore areas and oil tankers, two offshore platforms tied together etc. This paper summarizes the major accident at M. T. Choon Hong III Ship and Tiram Kimia Sdn. Bhd. (TKSB), and also discusses the causes which led to this major accident. It was found that the lack of integrity is the main cause behind the escalation of the fire and explosion at the Choon Hong III Ship and the TKSB. It was noted that the disaster which involved mutual major hazard installation was preceded by two incubation periods.     

An Overview of the Nature of Hydrocarbon Jet Fire Hazards in the Oil and Gas Industry and a Simplified Approach to Assessing the Hazards

High pressure jet fires pose a serious hazard to offshore installations operated by the oil and gas industry as demonstrated by the Piper Alpha incident. Following the Piper Alpha incident a major initiative by the offshore oil and gas industry operators led to the production of Interim Guidance Notes which provided guidance to operators on how to assess jet fire hazards. However, many areas of uncertainty were identified where no data was available. Areas of particular concern identified in the Interim Guidance Notes were two-phase jet fires, the effect of confinement on jet fires and their behaviour with water deluge. Since that time a considerable body of experimental research has been undertaken. Based on this recent data, this paper reassesses jet fire hazards in an offshore environment and provides updated guidance on the hazards they pose, including tabulated data and simple calculation techniques for predicting jet fire hazards.     

GIS应用于城市重大危险源监控的综述

系统地总结出GIS在重大危险源监控方面的应用现状,简要介绍了地理信息系统的概念及其在重大危险源监控方面的作用。重点论述利用GIS的基本功能强化重大危险源安全管理;利用WebGIS技术对整个地区的重大危险源进行监控,实现信息共享;利用基于GIS的监控预警技术,降低事故率;利用GIS和GPS结合的方法,减少事故引发的损失;利用GIS决策支持技术,指导监控及应急救援。经过分析论证得出的结论是:研究GIS空间分析、模型分析和基础数据的获取技术是今后努力的方向。提出GIS在重大危险源监控方面的应用的发展趋势,为GIS技术在我国重大危险源监控方面的应用发展提供借鉴。     

运用风险管理理念,提高灭火救援水平

根据消防部队灭火救援工作中的职业危险 ,引入了风险管理理念。笔者运用安全系统工程的理论和方法 ,建立了灭火救援工作的风险管理方法以及风险识别、风险评价的方法和步骤 ,并针对当前的情况 ,提出风险控制的具体措施。该方法简单 ,易于操作。在安全管理工作中应用风险管理方法 ,根据现有资料和知识经验 ,针对部门的具体情况 ,找出灭火救援工作中存在的风险 ,并对各种风险及其危险程度进行评价 ,在此基础上 ,采取相应的控制措施。分析和研究表明 ,运用风险管理有利于控制或减少消防人员在灭火救援中存在的风险 ,防范事故发生 ,提高灭火救援的水平。     

GIS在化工园区事故应急救援辅助决策中的应用

采用GIS平台与应急决策支持技术相结合,以园区高危工艺和重大危险源作为分析对象,开发化工园区安全管理系统中的应急救援辅助决策模块,针对园区内高危工艺或重大危险源事故后果预测与事故应急救援管理的科学性和有效性,扩展为对整个化工园区的事故风险管理与事故应急救援辅助决策支持。运用该模块可实现园区内突发事故后果预测、最优救援和疏散路径规划、应急辅助决策方案生成,有效提高化工园区事故救援的科学性和效率,减少人员伤亡和财产损失,提高化工园区安全管理水平。     

论重大危险源监控与重大事故隐患治理

重大危险源是指工业活动中危险物质或能量超过临界量的设备、设施或场所。工业活动中重大火灾、爆炸、毒物泄漏事故 ,尽管其起因和影响不尽相同 ,但都有一个共同的特征 :其根源是存在大量的易燃、易爆、有毒物质或具有引发灾难事故的能量。重大危险源同重大事故隐患是两个既有联系又有区别的概念 ,前者强调设备、设施、场所中存在或固有的危险物质 (能量 )的多少 ,后者则可以认为是出现明显缺陷 (人的不安全行为 ,物的不安全状态或管理上的缺陷 )的重大危险源。从重大事故隐患治理到重大危险源普查 (申报 )、监控是预防重大事故理论与技术的进步 ,是从源头抓预防 ,是落实预防为主 ,关口前移的具体体现 ,也是国家安全生产法律、法规的强制要求。笔者论述了重大危险源监控、重大事故隐患治理与重大事故预防之间的区别与联系 ,用事故是能量意外释放的观点 ,论述了安全是相对的、危险是永存的、事故是可以预防的 ;分析了建立重大危险源监控体系与重大事故预防控制体系的几大要素 ,即危险源辨识、评价、分级管理与监控 ,应急救援等。     

大型超市火灾情况下人员疏散模拟分析

针对大型商场在火灾情况下,人员是否能够及时逃生的问题,采用计算流体动力学软件FDS和大型疏散模拟软件building EXODUS对徐州某大型超市进行火灾时人员疏散的模拟。在火灾场景下,由于烟气对于人员顺利逃生有着重要的影响,运用FDS软件模拟得到着火层四周出口处烟气的下降速度,烟气浓度以及能见度的变化情况,从而给出人员安全疏散的最佳时间,再应用building EXODUS模拟当超市人流量最大时人员的疏散情况,得出该大型超市内人员逃生所需的时间,两种模拟所得时间进行对比分析,可得到人员是否能安全疏散的结论。