Symposium on process safety

IIT Gandhinagar is conducting an International conference on Safety and Symposium on Process Safety on December 5th and 6th. More information can be obtained in this link.

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Explosion proof protection on mobile fertilizer plant reclaimer

 http://www.wordsun.com/news/release/novel-lightweight-shelter-provides-explosion-proof-protection-on-mobile-fertilizer-plant-reclaimer/ms

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Improve Safety Despite Limited Resources

Improve Safety Despite Limited Resources

 Contribute to the surviving victims of Bhopal by buying my book "Practical Process Safety Management"

SAFETY:The drilling industry's explosion problem- article from eenews.net

 SAFETY:The drilling industry's explosion problem- article from eenews.net

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The importance of asset integrity

The importance of asset integrity is highlighted in this accident when an employee was opening a bypass of a control valve which was malfunctioning. Read about the incident in this link.

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Expansion joint failure causes fatality

OSHA has cited a chemical plant in the USA for an expansion joint failure that caused a fatality. Read about the incident in this link. 


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Senior pilots were asleep until minutes before Air France crash disaster

Senior pilots were asleep until minutes before Air France crash disaster

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Cyclones and emergency preparedness

The ferocity of cyclone Hudhud makes me shiver. Wind speeds were reported to be 195 kmph. My thoughts go back to 1984 when a 120 kph wind speed cyclone hit the ammonia plant where I was shift in charge. The ammonia tank flare toppled and the safety valves of the tank were maintaining tank pressure as emergency power to the tank compressors was lost. Luckily for us, the area around the plant was sparsely populated and a disaster was averted.
A parallel ammonia tank flare was erected in record time and we managed to connect it to the existing line from the tank and control the situation.
Visak has many chemical industries and refineries and the cyclone would have badly hit them. I hope the situation is brought back under control quickly.

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Ex manager of chemical plant sentenced to 25 years for causing 7 fatalities

A Chinese ex Manager of a chemical plant was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he was found guilty of altering the thickness and height of a sulphuric acid tank that later ruptured killing 7 people. Read the news article in this link.

   
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The challenge of change in Engineering by Phil Hopkins

 Phil Hopkins of Penspen Integrity, UK, has written an incisive and humorous article on  "The challenge of change in Engineering". It is worth reading by all chemical engineers.

Read the full article in this link

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Emergency response for sulphuric acid

Please find a good presentation for emergency response by NorFalco, for sulphuric acid leak in this link.

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Duty of care: Indian Express

Duty of care : Indian Express

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Oversight in inspection causes a pressure vessel lid to blow off

A pressure vessel exploded, sending the vessel’s 250 Kg lid six metres into the air. No one was injured in the incident.
The explosion was found to have been caused by a failure of the vessel’s regulator and pressure relief valve. The investigation determined that sufficient maintenance of the safety devices was not being carried out. Also, statutory inspections were not completed for three years.Read about the incident in this link.

 
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23 injured in flare-up at SAIL’s Burnpur plant | Business Line

23 injured in flare-up at SAIL’s Burnpur plant | Business Line


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Another pressure testing incident

A technician suffered serious injury during a pressure test when a thermowell failed and hit him in the leg. Read the incident in this link.

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Technology of the future today

World’s First Plant to Print Jet Engine Nozzles in Mass Production

What does the above link have with process safety? Technology is rapidly changing. Try to guess how 3D printing will influence process safety management.


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California Proposes Major Changes to Refinery Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard

California Proposes Major Changes to Refinery Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard



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Interaction with chemical engineering students

Today I gave a presentation on "Bhopal and it's relevance today -what young chemical engineers should know" to a group of 60 smart final year chemical engineering students in a leading university. My learnings from the interaction:
This generation of post bhopal chemical engineers are very curious to know what exactly happened at Bhopal and how they can use the learnings in their career in industry. If we do not pass on the relevance of the Bhopal disaster (and the learnings from Bhopal will remain relevant as long as the human being exists) to the present and future generations, we will continue to have major disasters in the Chemical industry. It would be nice if, during the students summer training in Industries, a topic on process safety is also mandatorily included.
The Management of Process safety should be taught as part of the core curriculum of undergrad chemical engineers. They will be the future decision makers in the industry.

I request Associations like the ICC and other chemical associations to take up the points mentioned above.
Also, every Responsible Care certified company may teach the lessons from Bhopal to chemical engineering students in at least three universities every year.


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Deaths Involving the Inadvertent Connection of Air-line Respirators to Inert Gas Supplies

Safety and Health Information Bulletins | Deaths Involving the Inadvertent Connection of Air-line Respirators to Inert Gas Supplies


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PRESENTATION TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON BHOPALS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

As you are aware, this year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Disaster. To commemorate the event, I am offering a 1 hour free presentation to boards of directors (including the Occupier and Finance Director) of any chemical manufacturing company on the topic "Are you in control of Process Safety"?
I will discuss all the current issues facing process safety and risk management in a chemical manufacturing  company and how directors can ensure effective risk management of a hazardous chemical facility.


If you are interested, please contact me at bkprism@gmail.com

My CV is given below:
I am a Chemical Engineer with over 35 years experience in the Industry in Operations, Technical Services and Process Safety. Prior to starting my Process safety consultancy in 2001, I had worked in India and Saudi Arabia.I have implemented risk based Process Safety Management systems based on best practices of OSHA CFR 1910.119 and others, in many plants in India and overseas. I have carried out many process hazard analysis studies and process safety related assignments in India, Germany, Greece, South Africa and the Middle East. I have also conducted many process incident investigations involving toxic gas releases, fires and explosions, runaway reactions, equipment failures, flare system explosions etc. You can contact me at bkprism@gmail.com


 Contribute to the surviving victims of Bhopal by buying my book "Practical Process Safety Management"