Factors contributing to US chemical plant process safety incidents from 2010 to 2020

Process safety incidents can result in injuries, fatalities, environmental impacts, facility damage, downtime & lost production, as well as impacts on a company's and industry's reputation. This study is focused on an analysis of the most commonly reported contributing factors to process safety incidents in the US chemical manufacturing industry. The database for the study contained 79 incidents from 2010 to 2019, partly investigated by the Chemical Safety Board (CSB). To be included in the study, the CSB archive of incident investigations were parsed to include only incidents which occurred at a company classified as 325 in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), assigned to businesses that participate in chemical manufacturing. For each incident, all of the identified contributing factors were catalogued in the database. From this list of identified contributing factors, it was possible to name the ‘top three’ contributing factors. The top three contributing factors cited for the chemical manufacturing industry were found to be: design; preventive maintenance; and safeguards, controls & layers of protection. The relationship between these top contributing factors and the most common OSHA citations was investigated as well. The investigation and citation history for NAICS 325 companies in the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) citations database was then analysed to assess whether there was any overlap between the top reported contributing factors to process safety events and the top OSHA citations recorded for the industry. A database consisting of the inspection and citation history for the chemical manufacturing industry identified by NAICS code 325 was assembled for inspections occurring between 2010 and 2020 (August). The analysis of the citation history for the chemical manufacturing industry specifically, identified that the list of the top contributing factors to process safety incidents overlapped with the most common OSHA violations. This finding is relevant to industry stakeholders who are considering how to strategically invest resources for achieving maximum benefit – reducing process safety risk and simultaneously improving OSHA citation history.     

Review of hydrogen safety during storage,transmission, and applications processes

Hydrogen is considered an excellent clean fuel with potential applications in several fields. There are serious safety concerns associated with the hydrogen process. These concerns need to be thoroughly understood and addressed to ensure its safe operation. To better understand the safety challenges of hydrogen use, application, and process, it is essential to undertake a detailed risk analysis. This can be achieved by performing detailed consequence modellings and assessing risk using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. This study comprehensively reviews and analyses safety challenges related to hydrogen, focusing on hydrogen storage, transmission, and application processes. Range of release and dispersion scenarios are investigated to analyse associated hazards. Approaches to quantitative risk assessment are also briefly discussed.     

基于SIL评估的LNG加气站安全仪表系统问题分析及改进建议

为分析LNG加气站安全仪表系统的功能完备性与可靠性,以3座典型的三级LNG加气站为研究对象,全面开展安全仪表功能辨识、安全完整性等级(SIL)定级与验证,进而提出针对性的改进建议.结果表明:3座LNG加气站的安全仪表系统均存在功能不完备、设备组件缺少失效数据的问题;为满足风险控制要求,三级LNG加气站需设置15个安全仪...     

基于安全信息的安全执行及其失效机制研究

为了提高系统安全执行的有效性,改善系统的安全状况,开展基于安全信息的安全执行及其失效机制研究.首先,对安全执行的基础问题进行研究,包括其定义及一般过程;其次,从安全信息出发,结合解决问题的一般路径,对安全执行机制进行研究;最后,在上述分析的基础上,研究安全执行失效机制,并构建模型,明确安全执行过程中的重要节点.研究结果...     

新发展阶段中国矿山安全法规标准体系研究

为充分发挥立法的引领和推动作用,不断完善中国矿山安全法律法规体系,分析我国矿山安全领域的立法现状,借鉴美国矿山安全立法经验及启示,立足于我国矿山安全监管监察体制革新的新形势和新要求,提出了以《矿山安全法》为基本法,以行政法规、部门规章、监察手册和强制性标准为支撑的新发展阶段矿山安全法规标准体系,为中国矿山安全领域立法提...     

基于云模型的城轨信号系统安全保障能力评价方法

为准确评价城轨信号系统安全保障能力及影响因素,基于云理论对定性与定量因素的良好融合优点,构建城轨信号系统安全保障能力评价云模型及评价指标体系,采用组合赋权法对各指标赋予权重,并基于专家意见,利用正向云发生器生成标准云.结果表明:该云模型具有一定稳定性和可靠性,可对城轨信号系统安全保障能力进行有效测评,同时能够发现安全运...     

基于改进的YOLOv4安全帽佩戴检测研究

为了加强建筑工人佩戴安全帽情况的检测,防止安全事故的发生,提出1种改进的轻量级YOLOv4安全帽佩戴检测算法,用于运行在移动设备端,降低现场部署的条件;制作1个8000幅图像的数据集,用于训练和评估安全帽检测算法;为了评估改进的YOLOv4的性能,从5个不同建筑工地采集到600张施工人员图像和60条施工视频作为验证集;...     

Evolution of working conditions under the impact of ICTs

IntroductionInformation and communication technologies (ICTs) play a major role in the current evolution of work. They are both a great tool for emancipating human beings from the most tedious and most dangerous tasks and an effective vector for intensifying work.MethodsOn the basis of three foresight exercises carried out in recent years and by describing concrete examples of work organizations, the authors highlight the main possible trends for the changes to come.ConclusionsThey conclude on a few general principles that could allow the establishment of a win–win policy.     

Cycle Aware: Piloting a module for novice drivers

Introduction: In low-cycling countries, motor-vehicle traffic and driver behavior are well known barriers to the uptake of bicycles, particularly for utility cycling. Lack of separation between cyclists and faster-moving traffic is one key issue, while attitudes of drivers toward and/or harassment of cyclists is another. Cyclist-related driver education has been recommended as a means to improve driver-cyclist interactions. Methods: The driver licensing process provides an opportunity for such education. The Cycle Aware module was developed to test and enhance novice drivers’ knowledge of interacting safely with cyclists. It was piloted across three Australian jurisdictions targeting both novice and experienced drivers. Participants were asked to complete the Cycle Aware module and an accompanying survey. A total of 134 novice and 97 experienced drivers completed the survey with 42 novice and 50 experienced drivers going on to complete the module. Results: Both groups of drivers scored equally well in the module but the very youngest and very oldest participants were more likely to have some incorrect responses. We did not find any relationship between correct module scores and attitudes toward cyclists. Survey results showed both novice and experienced drivers had somewhat positive attitudes toward cyclists. The two cohorts differed on several attitude questions. Sixty percent (60%) of novices compared to 30% of experienced drivers reported feeling concerned when sharing the road with cyclists, and novices were less likely to agree that cyclists had a right to use the roads. Conclusions and practical applications: The analysis suggests novices need to be better equipped to share roads confidently with cyclists and to recognize cyclists as legitimate traffic participants.