Dynamic-risk-informed safety barrier management: An application to cost-effective barrier optimization based on data from multiple sources

An integrated approach for performance assessment and management of safety barriers in a systemic manner is needed concerning the prevention and mitigation of major accidents in chemical process industries. Particularly, the effects of safety barriers on system risk reduction should be assessed in a dynamic manner to support the decision-making on safety barrier establishments and improvements. A simulation approach, named Simulink-based Safety Barrier Modeling (SSBM), is proposed in this paper to conduct dynamic risk assessment of chemical facilities with the consideration of the degradation of safety barriers. The main functional features of the SSBM include i) the basic model structures of SSBM can be determined based on bow-tie diagrams, ii) multiple data (periodic proof test data, continuous condition-monitoring data, and accident precursor data) may be combined to update barrier failure probabilities and initiating event probabilities, iii) SSBM is able to handle uncertainty propagation in probabilistic risk assessment by using Monte Carlo simulations, and iv) cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and optimization algorithms are integrated to support the decision-making on safety barrier establishments and improvements. An illustrative case study is demonstrated to show the procedures of applying the SSBM on dynamic risk-informed safety barrier management and validate the feasibility of implementing the SSBM for cost-effective safety barrier optimization.     

Risk assessment of safety level in university laboratories using questionnaire and Bayesian network

Accidents in university laboratories not only create a great threat to students’ safety but bring significant negative social impact. This paper investigates the university laboratory safety in China using questionnaire and Bayesian network (BN) analysis. Sixteen influencing factors for building the Bayesian net were firstly identified. A questionnaire was distributed to graduate students at 60 universities in China to acquire the probability of safe/unsafe conditions for sixteen influencing factors, based on which the conditional probability of four key factors (human, equipment and material, environment, and management) was calculated using the fuzzy triangular theory and expert judgment. The determined conditional probability was used to develop a Bayesian network model for the risk analysis of university laboratory safety and identification of the main reasons behind the accidents. Questionnaire results showed that management problems are prominent due to insufficient safety education training and weak management level of management personnel. The calculated unsafe state probability was found to be 65.2%. In the BN analysis, the human factor was found to play the most important role, followed by equipment and material factor. Sensitive and inferential analysis showed that the most sensitive factors are personnel incorrect operation, illegal operation, and experiment equipment failure. Based on the analysis, countermeasures were proposed to improve the safe management and operation of university laboratories.     

Methodology for Natech coupling risk assessment using correlative multi-criteria decision-making method

When a natural disaster occurs, it may damage multiple industrial facilities in a certain area at the same time, and the resulting Natech events may have an impact on the surrounding industrial facilities, generating coupling risk. In this study, the assessment of Natech events coupling risk is conducted using the method of correlated multi-criteria decision-making, and the knowledge of fuzzy measures is introduced to solve the uncertainty problem in Natech coupling risk. Natech Coupling Risk Index is constructed to involve physical and functional facilities. The concept of equivalent population is proposed to compare the risks generated by physical facilities and functional facilities. And economic indicators are added to calculate the comprehensive risk value. The purpose of this contribution is to enable local government managers to use their expertise and resources and the existing risk assessment of the plants themselves and rely on the scoring of experts limitedly to quickly and easily identify potential high Natech risk areas. In the calculation process of coupling risk, the government can also take the lead to promote information communication between different plants and other industrial subjects. The proposed method was applied in a realistic chemical industry area in Guangzhou, China and in a hypothetical town. The result shows that the physical risk may be transferred to the population and economy through the coupling between industrial facilities and the functional link between functional facilities and population and economy.     

A thermal hazard risk evaluation of emulsion polymerisation and vinyl acetate monomers in the latex manufacturing process

Latex is extensively used in industrial products. However, completing some processes at scale leads to unacceptable levels of risk that need to be quantified and mitigated. Systemic risks must be eliminated wherever possible, and safety takes priority over efficiency and quality. To assess the process risks accurately, four raw materials were examined in this study: polyvinyl acetate (PVA), latex process-initiator-ammonium persulfate (APS) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and vinyl acetate monomer (VAM). The physicochemical composition of the PVA latex process was determined via calorimeters, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and vent sizing package 2 (VSP2). The calorimetry results showed that the protective colloid was a critical component in the polymerisation reaction. In addition, when adding initiators to the system, it is vital to observe the normal ratio of materials and keep the stirring system operating. The scenario system also simulated the effects of shutting down various inhibitory programs, including the build-up of free radicals that could result in a runaway reaction when the initiator was added in excess. On the other hand, the result of the risk matrix displayed as a medium level, indicating that although the probability of an accident is low, the resulting severity is at disaster level. As a result, this study provides process safety engineers with a reliable frame of reference for assessing the potential dangers in the PVA latex manufacturing process.     

淮河流域安徽段水体和沉积物微塑料赋存特征及风险评估

为探究淮河流域安徽段水体与沉积物微塑料赋存特征及生态风险级别,采用野外采样、体式显微镜、扫描电镜、傅里叶红外光谱（FTIR）以及风险指数（H）和污染负荷指数（PLI）模型等方法,分析了流域水体和沉积物微塑料现状,并进行了微塑料生态风险评估.结果表明,流域各点位微塑料检测率为100%,表层水与沉积物微塑料平均丰度分别为（39800±3367） n ·m^-3和（5078±447） n ·kg^-1,下游微塑料平均丰度要高于上游和中游.水体和沉积物微塑料粒径以20~150 μm为主,占比分别为82.96%和80.77%.微塑料形状主要为纤维（水体76.05%、沉积物84.53%）、薄膜（水体21.83%、沉积物15.43%）和碎片（水体2.12%、沉积物0.04%）.水体和沉积物中微塑料主要以透明颜色为主,占比分别为63.31%和83.69%.水体和沉积物主要以聚乙烯（水体65.74%、沉积物80.62%）和聚丙烯（水体18.43%、沉积物9.71%）为主,微塑料主要来源于农业薄膜、废弃渔具渔网和港口人为废弃的塑料袋.微塑料风险指数（H）模型评估表明部分点位风险指数较高,淮河流域安徽段微塑料风险等级为Ⅱ级,污染负荷指数（PLI）模型评估表明流域地表水体和沉积物总体上生态风险较低.     

北江中上游地表水和沉积物中PAHs和PCBs污染特征和风险评估

采用气相色谱-质谱法（GC-MS）测定了北江中上游流域地表水和沉积物样品中多环芳烃（PAHs）和多氯联苯（PCBs）类污染物的含量,分析了PAHs和PCBs的污染水平和空间分布,并评估了污染物的健康风险和生态风险.结果表明,16种PAHs单体在所有水样和沉积物样品中均被检出,检出范围分别为41.82~443.04 ng·L^-1和59.58~635.73 ng·g^-1,北江中上游PAHs的污染水平为中、轻度.水中PAHs以二环芳烃和三环芳烃为主,沉积物中以三环芳烃和四环芳烃为主.在水样中检出了17种PCBs,浓度范围0.81~287.50 ng·L^-1,以六氯联苯和七氯联苯为主;沉积物中检出了8种PCBs,含量范围0.13~3.96 ng·g^-1,以五氯联苯和七氯联苯为主.整个调查区域内地表水中PAHs和PCBs的终生致癌风险指数小于10^-4,处于中、低水平;非致癌风险指数均小于1,不存在非致癌风险.采用风险商值（RQ）法对地表水中污染物进行生态风险评价,研究区域内地表水中PAHs和PCBs生态风险总体处于中低风险水平,个别点位存在重度风险的污染物单体,值得引起重视.采用沉积物质量基准法（SQGs）对沉积物中污染物进行生态风险评估,沉积物中PAHs和PCBs均处于较低的生态风险水平.     

飞机实验室气候试验风险识别及分析

目的 研究飞机实验室气候试验过程中风险的识别及分析问题.方法 根据飞机实验室气候试验流程,针对试验设计、试验准备、试验实施和试验确认等阶段进行风险识别和分析.结果 及结论识别并分析出实验室气候试验各阶段的风险,并在国内首次某民机实验室气候试验中得到应用.     

基于蒙特卡罗模拟的土壤环境健康风险评价:以PAHs为例

为获得更为合理的健康风险评价结果,并辨识对健康风险影响最大的因素,基于蒙特卡罗随机模拟,运用概率风险评价模型,定量评估了中国上海某居民区土壤中16种PAHs对居民的健康风险水平,并对各参数进行敏感性分析.结果表明,土壤中PAHs造成的健康风险服从对数正态分布,总的致癌风险为3.43×10~(-5)±2.63×10~(-5),最小值为8.10×10~(-7),最大值为2.39×10~(-4),超过10-6的概率为95%,超过10~(-5)的概率为75%,超过10~(-4)的概率小于5%;总的危害商为4.74×10~(-2)±3.42×10~(-2),不超过1,风险较小;在7种具有致癌效应的PAHs中,苯并(a)芘、二苯并(a,h)蒽和苯并(a)蒽是总致癌风险的主要贡献物质,贡献率分别占60.41%、26.84%和6.56%;3种暴露途径中,经口途径是造成致癌风险的主要途径,贡献率为73.22%;对于总致癌风险,人体暴露参数中每日土壤摄入量、暴露周期、暴露皮肤面积敏感度较大,分别为58.35%、50.21%和20.51%;体重具有负敏感性,敏感度为-11.66%.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区生态风险空间识别及开发利用权衡——以兰州市为例

基于社会经济发展与土地资源利用管理、生态环境保护之间矛盾的现实需求,以兰州市为例,通过区域开发生态风险传递过程分析,构建黄土丘陵沟壑区区域开发生态风险评价框架,结合自然生态风险、开发生态风险和生态重要性,定量评价黄土丘陵沟壑区开发利用综合生态风险并识别其空间分布特征,最后结合丘陵地区建设用地适宜性,权衡黄土丘陵沟壑等未利用地的开发与生态环境保护.结果表明:兰州市综合生态风险以中、低等级为主;兰州市二类未利用地占比最大,为51.67%;一类未利用地在海拔相对较低的皋兰县北部、永登县庄浪河以东集中分布,占总面积的37.45%.权衡兰州市综合生态风险与未利用地开发适宜性,一、二类用地的综合生态风险以1级低风险为主.其中,一类用地集中连片度高,坡度、海拔等自然本底相对较好,是未来未利用地综合开发建设优先选择区域;二类用地因自然地理条件的限制,开发难度大,开发成本高,可以作为后备土地开发资源选择性开发.     

两种工艺对污水再生水中微量有机物的去除效果

以20种微量有机污染物为目标物,针对北京市2个再生水厂的不同工艺,系统地考察了污水再生水中目标化合物的去除效果,并采用重组酵母雌激素活性筛检法(YES法)对再生水中雌激素活性进行评价.结果表明,超滤(UF)+臭氧(O3)氧化处理工艺可有效地去除微量有机污染物,出水中雌二醇当量浓度(EEQ)低于YES法检出范围.A2/O+膜生物反应器(MBR)+反渗透(RO)处理工艺对微量有机污染物有很高的去除能力,出水中可检测出的目标化合物较少.2种工艺均可降低再生水的环境风险,保障其使用安全.