Evaluating Process Safety in the Chemical

Quantitative Risk Analysis is a powerful tool used to help manage risk and improve safety. When used appropriately, it provides a rational basis for evaluating process safety and comparing alternative safety improvements. This guide, an update of an earlier American Chemistry Council (ACC) publication utilizing the "hands-on" experience of CPI risk assessment practitioners and safety professionals involved with the CCPS and ACC, explains how managers and users can make better-informed decisions about QRA, and how plant engineers and process designers can better understand, interpret and use the results of a QRA in their plant.

J. S. Arendt is the author of Evaluating Process Safety in the Chemical Industry: A User's Guide to Quantitative Risk Analysis, published by Wiley.

D K. Lorenzo is the author of Evaluating Process Safety in the Chemical Industry: A User's Guide to Quantitative Risk Analysis, published by Wiley.

List of Figures

ix

List of Tables

xi

Preface

xiii

Acknowledgments

xv

Executive Summary

xvii

Advice for the Reader

xxi

Acronyms

xxiii

Glossary

xxv

Introduction

1

(10)

Background

1

(1)

The Process of Risk Analysis

2

(3)

Definition of Qra

5

(2)

Misconceptions About Qra

7

(4)

Deciding Whether to Use Qra

11

(14)

Some Reasons for Considering Qra

11

(2)

Types of Information Available from Risk Studies

13

(6)

Criteria for Electing to Use Qra

19

(6)

Management Use of Qra

25

(26)

Chartering the Analysis

25

(6)

Study Objective

26

(1)

Scope

27

(1)

Technical Approach

28

(1)

Resources

28

(3)

Selecting Qra Techniques

31

(15)

Hazard Identification

31

(1)

Consequence Analysis

32

(4)

Frequency Analysis

36

(5)

Risk Evaluation and Presentation

41

(5)

Understanding the Assumptions and Limitations

46

(5)

Completeness

46

(1)

Model Validity

47

(1)

Accuracy/Uncertainty

47

(1)

Reproducibility

48

(1)

Inscrutability

49

(2)

Using Qra Results

51

(14)

Comparative Methods for Establishing Perspective

52

(5)

Factors Influencing Risk Perception

57

(4)

Type of Hazard

58

(1)

Voluntary versus Involuntary

59

(1)

Societal versus Individual

59

(1)

Public versus Employee

59

(1)

High Consequence/Low Frequency versus Low Consequence/High Frequency

59

(1)

Acute versus Latent Effects

60

(1)

Familiarity

60

(1)

Controllability

60

(1)

Age of Exposed Population

60

(1)

Distribution of Risk and Benefit

61

(1)

Communicating Risk

61

(2)

Accept and Involve the Public as a Legitimate Partner

61

(1)

Plan Carefully and Evaluate Your Efforts

61

(1)

Listen to People's Specific Concerns

62

(1)

Be Honest, Frank, and Open

62

(1)

Coordinate and Collaborate with Other Credible Sources

62

(1)

Meet the Needs of the Media

62

(1)

Speak Clearly and with Compassion

63

(1)

Pitfalls in Using Qra Results

63

(2)

Conclusions

65

(2)

References

67

(6)

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Evaluating Process Safety in the Chemical Industry A User's Guide to Quantitative Risk Analysis

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials