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Identifying Specific Loss of Containment Scenarios for Process Hazard Analyses Newsletter

Jun 5, 2025, 09:03 AM by Deborah Rivero
In this newsletter, Neil Prophet and Marcel Amorós Martí look at Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), a rigorous method for identifying specific LOC scenarios.

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The San Juanico liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) explosion on November 19, 1984, occurred due to a Loss of Containment (LOC). It's been quoted as the biggest loss of life from a flammable or explosive incident, with a death toll of between 500 and 600.

The lack of a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) study was a key contributing factor. Such an analysis is essential for preventing or mitigating the likelihood and severity of LOC events.

Expertise and judgment are required to establish credible characterization of hazardous LOC scenarios. Previous Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) studies can provide valuable information on the LOC scenarios. Therefore, it is important to review these studies to include specific scenarios. If information is unavailable, a team-based approach for identification analysis should be performed to identify potential specific LOCs.

Read this newsletter by Neil Prophet and Marcel Amorós Martí for a look at Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), a rigorous method for identifying specific Loss of Containment (LOC) scenarios. Topics include:

  • Top Event or LOC Definition
  • Identification of Causes
  • Fault Tree Development
  • Fault Tree Evaluation
  • Process Safety Management Tools

Bonus!

This newsletter also includes access to a short presentation by Neil Prophet on important lessons learned from the 1984 fatal incident at the LPG storage and distribution terminal outside Mexico City, Mexico.

Have a great and safe day.

 

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