Project Related Risk Assessments

During the projects feasibillity phase I can advise you on suitable safety plans, devices and mechanisms.
In this phase I carry out the first hazard analysis, on-site, with the project team members. It will help you to assess the different solutions in terms of their potential risk and the associated costs.

To do this first hazard analysis the PRA-Team need the data on

• intended raw materials
• expected intermediate products and intended finished products
• estimated process parameters and conditions
• the intended technical design

Keep an overview of the project

The hazards and their risks that are identified are recorded in a checklist so that they can be monitored later.
For your part, you can draw on this checklist to get an initial cost estimate for the project concerned. This will enable you to minimise changes later, in the project and thus to the budget.

A short description of the PRA method you find here.

You have decided on a process layout and the process technology. This is a good moment to start the ORA. The results available from the planning phase are being drawn on.

Your team will use a standard questionnaire to answer various questions on

• Technical Safety
• Fire protection and Explosion Prevention / Protection
• Environmental protection
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Structural Integrity
• Sustainability
• Industrial Hygiene & Safety
• Microbiology (QA)
• Local Legal Requirements

The questionnaire should be used to structure the risk analysis. Deadlines for answering any outstanding questions will be agreed with the relevant specialists in your company.
The hazards and risks from this enhanced analysis are recorded in the former prepared checklist (PRA)
This will help you to clarify any outstanding issues and can be used to monitor and ensure that the protection measures selected are implemented. The ORA is ongoing throughout the project. Like the checklist, it is part of the plant documentation.

A short description of the ORA method you find here.

Towards the end of your project’s definition phase

• P&ID’s are completed
• MSDS’s are present
• Process and Design parameters are well defined

One can now define the specific different nodes (different sub-systems or sections) and select the appropriate Hazard Analysis Method for each node.

For uncomplex nodes the What-If-Method will be suitable.

Preparing the PHA.
As a Team-Leader I will guide the PHA-Team through the entire hazard analysis process.
The PHA-Team may recommend additional layers of protection like: interlocks, monitoring devices etc. if necessary.
One has to keep in mind, the PHA-team is not a design-team. The design has to be done by the (internal or external) design department.

For further information please have a look at

PHA        HAZOP      What-IF

Independently of the risk and hazard analyses already mentioned, I’m able to prepare process safety studies for you.
The process safety study assesses hazards from

• Over- / Under-pressure
• thermal expansion and brittle fracture
• fire and explosion
• ignition sources
• chemical release and chemical reaction
• human factors

along with their risk indicator, and matches them with the protection measures required or planned.
Ideally, the process safety study is carried out in parallel as the design progresses. This ensures at an early stage that the neccassary safety requirements have been taken into account, and it avoids design changes later on.

To draw up the process safety study, the listed data and documents are needed:

• Piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID)
• Process flow diagram (PFD)
• Plant and component drawings
• Ex-zoning overview
• Data sheets for all the devices installed (device category, group, protection level, temperature class, etc.)
• MSDS of all chemicals used in the process
• Process description
• Process parameters and conditions
• Plant layout plan (top view)

The correct calculation of volume flow rates and pressure values are also included in the process safety study, along with the dimensions and specifications for pressure relief devices. What may happen in case of fire is part of the process safety study as well. Correct designing and selection of a suitable venting device (as safety device) prevents unacceptable high pressure in containers or tanks caused by external fire.