There is a lot of action going on in the big data
field and how it will help us improve process safety. I have operated
chemical plants in the 80's and 90's and what I have observed is that
the data flow to an operator in a control room has dramatically
increased today, when compared to the past. Consequently he/she is now
prone to making more errors. Adopting Dr Trevor Kletz' approach of
inherent safety, could we pose a question.......is all the data really
necessary? While technology is definitely an enabler, one has to draw a
line between good data (useful data) and bad data (unwanted data that
distracts operator attention).......what I mean is that while many of
the modern control systems do have very useful features, we must filter
out the data we do NOT want, at the design stage of the control system
itself. As an example, if we restrict the number of alarms in the design
stage itself, why do we need alarm management software to be
retrofitted? Your thoughts, please.....
Showing posts with label PSM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PSM. Show all posts
December 4, 2017
November 22, 2017
Ammonia storage and business continuity risk
I recently attended an international conference in
the Middle East, about issues with large scale storage of ammonia and new
developments in ammonia production. There was an interesting case where
an operator of a large atmospheric ammonia storage tank located in a port city
for many years was forced by the authorities to decommission the tank
as there was a threat by an adversary to hit the tank with missiles. The
case study pointed out that the company had taken measures to protect
the tank. Though dispersion models
predicted a much smaller exclusion zone in the event of a tank rupture,
the public relations measures and risk communication by the company
could not prevent the court judgement and finally the tank was
decommissioned. A group of scientists had published a report that in the
event of an attack on the ammonia tank, the effect would be similar to
the dropping of 5 atomic bombs. But the results of QRA studies did not match with the
prediction.
The case study has lessons for us in
India. The FACT ammonia tank supreme court judgement many years ago took
a pragmatic view of the matter. But today, public's perception of risk
is only about consequences and does not consider probability of
occurrence! There are a large number of atmospheric ammonia storages in
India where construction of houses by public, near the tanks, have been
permitted by authorities, with the net result that the buffer zone that
was originally present has disappeared. It's a point to ponder!
Industries with large quantities of toxic materials may be the ones that
may be asked to move...
October 26, 2017
October 23, 2017
October 17, 2017
Process Safety Managemement - Gaps Survey results
My thanks to the 24 people who participated in the Process Safety Management Gaps Survey. The results are listed from top ranking concern to the least ranking.
What is the greatest barrier to your PSM program?
What is your greatest barrier to Management of Change?
What is the greatest barrier to your PSM program?
1. Top
management commitment
2. Production
pressure
3. Employee
attrition rate
4. Lack
of time for PSM
5. PSM
is not a line management function
6. Others
a)
Conflict between Production vs Safety
b)
Conflict between Profits vs Cost of compliance
to PSM system
c)
PSM Competency
What is your greatest barrier to Management of Change?
1.
Carrying out changes without taking it through
MOC
2.
Lack of updated process safety information
3.
Too cumbersome a system - takes time to fill up
and complete
4.
Boss not committed to MOC but to production
5.
Others:
a)
Too much in one umbrella - forgetting MOC is
mainly to address HSEF consequences
b)
MOC is avoided when there is a conflict of
interest. If I am comfortable I will do .
October 11, 2017
Process Safety Management System Gaps survey -FINAL REMINDER
Dear Readers,
Many of you have an existing PSM system or are in an advanced stage of implementation. I am conducting a survey on Gaps you notice in your PSM system. The anonymous survey has 2 questions and will take 2 minutes and is available in this link
I request you to please take the survey. The survey closes on October 15th, 2017
Results will be posted in blog. Thank you for your cooperation.
For people who have already responded, thanks!
Many of you have an existing PSM system or are in an advanced stage of implementation. I am conducting a survey on Gaps you notice in your PSM system. The anonymous survey has 2 questions and will take 2 minutes and is available in this link
I request you to please take the survey. The survey closes on October 15th, 2017
Results will be posted in blog. Thank you for your cooperation.
For people who have already responded, thanks!
October 6, 2017
Process safety management gaps Survey- REMINDER
Dear Readers,
Many of you have an existing PSM system or are in an advanced stage of implementation. I am conducting a survey on Gaps you notice in your PSM system. The anonymous survey has 2 questions and will take 2 minutes and is available in this link
I request you to please take the survey. The survey closes on October 15th, 2017
Results will be posted in blog. Thank you for your cooperation.
For people who have already responded, thanks!
Many of you have an existing PSM system or are in an advanced stage of implementation. I am conducting a survey on Gaps you notice in your PSM system. The anonymous survey has 2 questions and will take 2 minutes and is available in this link
I request you to please take the survey. The survey closes on October 15th, 2017
Results will be posted in blog. Thank you for your cooperation.
For people who have already responded, thanks!
October 2, 2017
Process Safety Management Gaps Survey
Dear Readers,
Many of you have an existing PSM system or are in an advanced stage of implementation. I am conducting a survey on Gaps you notice in your PSM system. The anonymous survey has 2 questions and will take 2 minutes and is available in this link
I request you to please take the survey. The survey closes on October 15th, 2017
Results will be posted in blog. Thank you for your cooperation.
Many of you have an existing PSM system or are in an advanced stage of implementation. I am conducting a survey on Gaps you notice in your PSM system. The anonymous survey has 2 questions and will take 2 minutes and is available in this link
I request you to please take the survey. The survey closes on October 15th, 2017
Results will be posted in blog. Thank you for your cooperation.
September 24, 2017
My new website
Dear Readers,
Prism consultants has a new website detailing the process safety services provided. Please visit it at http://prismcon.in. My blog postings will continue in the blog.
Thank you!
Prism consultants has a new website detailing the process safety services provided. Please visit it at http://prismcon.in. My blog postings will continue in the blog.
Thank you!
September 20, 2017
August 23, 2017
Safety audit once in 6 months for industries
Contribute to the surviving victims of Bhopal by buying my book "Practical Process Safety Management"
August 13, 2017
Reprieve for the CSB
Two articles about the CSB and proposed elimination of funding for the agency:
Contribute to the surviving victims of Bhopal by buying my book "Practical Process Safety Management"
Contribute to the surviving victims of Bhopal by buying my book "Practical Process Safety Management"
August 9, 2017
Sates challenge delay of safety rule in USA
Contribute to the surviving victims of Bhopal by buying my book "Practical Process Safety Management"
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