By Amy Theis,Director of Risk Management Servicesand AnnMarie Fauske,Customer Outreach and Digital Media Manager,Fauske & Associates, LLC (FAI)
Process safety focuses on preventing fires, explosions and accidental chemical releases in chemical process facilities or other facilities dealing with hazardous materials such as refineries, and oil and gas facilities. Traditionally, process safety has been implemented through OSHA's Process Safety Management (PSM) of potentially hazardous chemicals. The purpose of PSM is to prevent or minimize catastrophic loss of primary containment events such as the release toxic, reactive, flammable, or explosive chemicals that could result in
toxic exposure, fire or explosion hazards. An effective PSM program requires a systematic approach to evaluating the chemical process. Using this approach, the process design, process technology, process changes, operational and maintenance activities and procedures, non-routine activities and procedures, emergency preparedness plans and procedures, training programs and other elements that affect the process are all considered in the evaluation.
关键组件实现一个有效的PSMprogram is appropriate hazard identification which utilizes the process safety information (PSI) piece of PSM. The process should be reviewed to identify hazards associated with the following:
- Chemicals
- Technology
- Equipment
Chemicals should be evaluated to identify:
Toxicity information –
- Permissible exposure limits
- Physical data
- Flammability data
- Reactivity data
- Corrosivity data
- Thermal and Chemical Stability data
- Chemical Incompatibility data for Inadvertent Mixing
- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s)
- Process Chemistry information
- Runaway Reaction characterization
- If applicable, Material Incompatibilites, unwanted reactions and potential decomposition reactions
Process technology should be evaluated to identify:
- Block flow diagram or simplified process flow diagram
- Process chemistry for desired reaction
- Maximum intended inventories
- Safe upper and lower limits for operating parameters
- Qualitative evaluation of the consequences of deviations
Process equipment should be evaluated to identify:
- Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)
- Design Codes & Standards Materials of Construction
- Electrical Classification
- Relief System Design & Design Basis Ventilation System Design
- Material & Energy balances for processes built after 5/26/92
- Safety Systems (interlocks, detection or suppression systems)
This information is all used together to support theProcess Hazards Analysis (PHA)effort and make the study as effective as possible to identify hazards associated with the process.
If there are gaps in the information needed in order to characterize material for flammability parameters, desired reactive chemistry, potential unwanted reactions, decomposition reactions or combustible dust characeristics, extensive laboratories such as Fauske & Associates (FAI) have capabilities to meet those needs. A full service lab also has subject matter experts in flammability, combustible dust and reactive chemicals in order to be able to guide the discussion and/or facilitate the PHA study.
For more information regarding Process Safety, Process Hazards Analysis and other reactive chemical safety topics, please contact Amy Theis, Director of Risk Management Services, Fauske & Associates, LLC (FAI), 630-887-5211,theis@fauske.com
