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The importance of the hazard identification stage should never be underestimated. As Trevor Kletz once said: “Are we sure that we have identified all the major hazards, and all the ways in which they can occur? What has not been identified can neither be assessed nor mitigated.”

Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) can be used for a number of different purposes. However, it is most valuable as part of a Risk Management program. Risk Management is the identification and control of hazards, through both technological and management solutions. Occasionally, a QRA is conducted solely to meet a regulatory requirement, but this rarely precludes using the results as part of a corporate risk management program.

A QRA can typically be divided into four primary tasks, and a reporting activity. The primary tasks are hazard identification, frequency analysis, hazards analysis, and risk determination. In this newsletter, Georges Melhem, Ph.D., FAIChE, and Neil Prophet discuss the major hazards for refineries as well as the seven steps to identifying hazard scenarios.

Upon completion of the Hazard Scenarios Identification stage, there still remains the significant effort of completing a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA).

The use of automated computerized tools such as Process Safety Office^® SuperChems^® Expert drastically reduces the cost of conducting a QRA, especially if mitigation and sensitivity analyses are to be performed. This software offers the most detailed and versatile platform for QRA and facility siting studies for both fixed facilities and pipelines.

Bonus!
This newsletter also includes access to a webinar presented by IChemE on The Legacy of Flixborough. This event changed the management of major hazards in the UK and internationally, and introduced the concept of management of change. Join Dame Judith Hackitt, Ramin Abhari, Ken Rivers, Robin Turney, and Trish Kerin for a conversation on the incident, its impact on safety, and lessons learned for preventing major hazards.

Have a great and safe day.

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