Inherently safer design in offshore oil and gas projects

Like all hazardous installations, inherently safer design (ISD) is one of the key tools in offshore oil and gas projects to minimize risks in offshore facilities. As the life cycle of offshore facilities is relatively short compared with onshore counterparts and there are many projects running every year, the potential is high for raising inherent safety standards and lowering safety risks throughout the offshore industry as old facilities are phased out. This paper gives an overview of offshore facilities and examples of implementation of ISD. Good examples of ISD are numerous. Industry guidance on ISD implementation abound. Yet, the systematic implementation of it in the industry is patchy. There are many reasons for factors which impede the effective, efficient and consistent implementation of ISD in projects. This paper describes some of them and proposes solution to address them. They include (a) the effective integration of ISD into hazard management systems with appropriate language to engage all disciplines in projects, (b) the phasing of resources to enable the project to capture ISD measures which are only available during early phases, (c) application of appropriate ISD goals and ISD performance metrics at various stages and (d) the appropriate use of quantified risk assessment to support ISD.     

Process hazards review applied to the use of anhydrous ammonia in agriculture: an example of chemical process safety for small business

Process hazards review (PHR) techniques have generally been applied by large, sophisticated companies in the nuclear, aerospace, and chemical process industries. There remains, however, a large population of smaller distributors and consumers of hazardous materials which could benefit equally from the application of PHR. These consumers unfortunately are generally less sophisticated and individually lack the necessary resources required to apply such state-of-the-art safety techniques.

Where common processes can be identified, it is possible to conduct a more generic PHR that will provide a sound technical basis for recognizing and preventing the development of hazards wherever these processes are used. Some facility-specific issues will always need to be considered, but the existence of the generic PHR should make the conduct of a PHR by each facility considerably easier and less costly.

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) contracted with DNV Technica Inc. to lead a hazard and operability study (HAZOP) of agricultural handling of anhydrous ammonia, from the receipt of ammonia at the retail distribution centre to the application of the ammonia by farmers to the fields. The multidisciplinary HAZOP team consisted of representatives from NIOSH, an agricultural chemical trade association, an ammonia producer, state ammonia facility inspectors, a retail distributor, and an equipment manufacturer. Several participants were part-time farmers with ammonia application experience.

Some specific aspects of applying the HAZOP technique in the context of this study, the findings obtained, and the plans to disseminate the important safety information developed during the course of the PHR are discussed. Finally, it is suggested that this approach could prove to be a useful addition to the product stewardship activities of chemical producers.     

整体环境静电防治

美国ＡＣＬ公司在一般静电防治基础上，突破传统观念，树立新观念，攻克了全方位、整体环境的现代静电防治技术，研制开发出性能优良的ＳＴＡＴＩＣＩＤＥ系列防静电产品，得到广泛应用．     

小型矿山地质灾害危险性评估技术探讨

矿山的开采为国家带来了很多资源和经济效益,但同时也引发了很多地质灾害,如何减少和避免灾害的发生是一件至关重要的事.本文以云南省龙井沟铜矿矿山地质灾害危险性评估为例,对类似小型矿山地质灾害危险性评估的方法和主要技术问题进行探讨,力求为类似小型矿山的地质灾害评估提供一点借鉴之处.     

溶剂系统结垢危害与清洗工艺

分析溶剂系统结垢的主要危害, 介绍水冲洗及系统试压、碱洗、酸洗、漂洗、中和钝化等化学清洗工艺步骤,应用后取得了良好的效果.     

MKJ型静电空气消毒洁净器的研制

应用工业电除尘的原理,采用正离子浸润来菌和镜象力荷电吸附除菌,只考虑细菌尘粒的粒径,不考虑其生物性的技术路线,设计了一种小型组合式静电场装置,配以高频高压恒流电源室内空气洁净器,面面积２０ｍ＾２,高３ｍ的室内使用可达到１万级洁净度（０．５μｍ粒子浓度〈３５０个／Ｌ）。医院手术室和重症监护病房的应用实例结果表明,具有在有人场合下连续消毒除菌和去除异味的优点。     

Impact of Gold mining on the Environment and Human Health: A Case Study in the Migori Gold Belt, Kenya

The study of gold sites in the Migori Gold Belt, Kenya, revealed that the concentrations of heavy metals, mainly Hg, Pb and As are above acceptable levels. Tailings at the panning sites recorded values of 6.5–510 mg kg^–1 Pb, 0.06–76.0 mg kg^–1 As and 0.46–1920 mg kg^–1 Hg. Stream sediments had values of 3.0–11075 mg kg^–1 Pb, 0.014–1.87 mg kg^–1 As and 0.28–348 mg kg^–1 Hg. The highest metal contamination was recorded in sediments from the Macalder stream (11075 mg kg^–1 Pb), Nairobi mine tailings (76.0 mg kg^–1 As) and Mickey tailings (1920 mg kg^–1 Hg). Mercury has a long residence time in the environment and this makes its emissions from artisan mining a threat to health. Inhaling large amounts of siliceous dust, careless handling of mercury during gold panning and Au/Hg amalgam processing, existence of water logged pits and trenches; and large number of miners sharing poor quality air in the mines are the major causes of health hazards among miners. The amount of mercury used by miners for gold amalgamation during peak mining periods varies from 150 to 200 kg per month. Out of this, about 40% are lost during panning and 60% lost during heating Au/Hg amalgam. The use of pressure burners to weaken the reef is a deadly mining procedure as hot particles of Pb, As and other sulphide minerals burn the body. Burns become septic. This, apparently, leads to death within 2–3 years. On-site training of miners on safe mining practices met with enthusiasm and acceptance. The use of dust masks, air filters and heavy chemical gloves during mining and mineral processing were readily accepted. Miners were thus advised to purchase such protective gear, and to continue using them for the sake of their health. The miners' workshop, which was held at the end of the project is likely to bear fruit. The Migori District Commissioner and other Government officials, including medical officers attended this workshop. As a result of this, the Government is seriously considering setting up a clinic at Masara, which is one of the mining centres in the district. This would improve the health of the mining community.     

Dioxin removal in “energy from waste plants” - comparison of air pollution control methods

The graph below shows the emitted dioxin - equivalents (Eadon) in grams per year in flue gas from municipal solid waste incinerators with various air pollution control methods for plants of capacity of 200 000 ton municipal solid waste (MSW) per year.

Full-size image (15K)

With optimized combustion and an effective air pollution control system the emissions of dioxins can be kept very low (concentrations below 0.1 ng/m³n).

With a very effective air pollution control system the total emission from all Swedish MSW-incinerators burning approximately 1.5 Mton/year will by 1990 be below 2 g/year - a drastic reduction from approximately 15 g today. As the total dioxin - equivalent emission to the environment in Sweden in the year 1987 was almost 500 g we see that municipal waste incineration really is on the way to solve their dioxin problem.     

桩基施工的安全隐患及预防控制措施

分析了目前全国桩基机械施工的现状、特点以及施工中一般常见的安全事故，并结合工作实际，从人、物、环境三个方面详细阐述了在桩基施工中存在的安全隐患。提出了应该采取的预防控制措施。     

PM2.5的健康危害、毒理效应与作用机制的研究

大气颗粒物对人体健康的影响在世界范围内引起关注,尤其是细粒子（PM_2.5,fine particulate matter）因粒径小、成分复杂,对人体健康的影响尤为突出。PM_2.5的毒理效应与作用机制是当前研究的热点,分析其研究现状与存在问题能更好地把握其核心领域并开展更进一步的研究。基于文献检索与分析,系统梳理了PM_2.5危害导致的疾病类型;介绍了PM_2.5毒理研究的主要实验手段;讨论当前认知的PM_2.5毒理效应（包括PM_2.5不同组分、不同来源、不同季节的影响）;汇总PM_2.5毒理作用机制研究方法的原理、特点、检测指标与测定方法,解析目前研究认为的五种主要的PM_2.5毒理作用机制。在分析已有研究成果的基础之上,就PM_2.5毒理实验、方法和研究内容方面存在的不足进行讨论,并提出今后需要重点开展的研究方向,以期为PM_2.5健康危害的准确评估和有效防治提供科学依据。