Didier Gaston

Bio: Didier Gaston is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Risk assessment & Risk management. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 12 publications receiving 396 citations.

Review of 62 risk analysis methodologies of industrial plants

Abstract: For about 10 years, many methodologies have been developed to undertake a risk analysis on an industrial plant. In this paper, 62 methodologies have been identified, these are separated into three different phases (identification, evaluation and hierarchisation). In order to understand their running, it seems necessary to examine the input data, methods used, obtained output data and to rank them in several classes. First, all the input data are grouped together into seven classes (plan or diagram, process and reaction, products, probability and frequency, policy, environment, text, and historical knowledge). Then, the methods are ranked in six classes based on the combination of four usual criteria (qualitative, quantitative, deterministic and probabilistic). And finally, the output data are classified into four classes (management, list, probabilistic and Merarchisation). This classification permits the appraisal of risk analysis methodologies. With the intention of understanding the running of these methodologies, the connections between the three defined previously criteria (determinist, probabilistic and determinist and probabilistic) are brought to the fore. Then the paper deals with the application fields and the main limitations of these methodologies. So the hierarchisation phase is discussed and the type of scale used. This paper highlights the difficulties in taking into account all risks for an industrial plant and suggests that there is not only one general method to deal with the problems of industrial risks.

Risk assessment and risk decision-making process related to hazardous installation in France

Abstract: The chemical process industry gathers critical infrastructures since chemical plants represent for the society both an instrument to generate activity and benefits (production of goods, employment, services …), and an instrument that can harm people and the environment. This paper describes the risk assessment approach need in France for licensing hazardous installations, in particular those covered by the Seveso II Directive and the implication for land-use planning. The first part explains why the French risk assessment procedure is based on the quantitative evaluation of major accident scenarios with explicit criteria, and only on qualitative analysis of the risk reducing measures without explicit criteria. The second part shows some on-going evolutions in the risk assessment process in particular for the analysis of the safety barriers. In the third part, the authors share some thoughts on the risk decision-making process.

Complexity and Multi (Inter or Trans)‐Disciplinary Sciences: Which Job for Engineers in Risk Management?

Abstract: This paper presents a discussion of the training needs for engineers in risk management. In particular this paper addresses the complexity of the risk management processes requiring a multi‐dimensional perspective on the complexity of reality. The authors discuss the interest of the framework provided by the systemic approach and the role of various engineer profiles (generalist and specialists). The authors describe the trend in the evolution of the structure of the Accidental Risks Division of INERIS, which is a French institute providing technical support to industry and competent authorities in charge of technological risk control (major hazard prevention).

Vulnerability of the Environment in the Proximity of an Industrial Site

Abstract: This work is carried out in the framework of the ARAMIS project, which aims at developing a comprehensive procedure for assessing the risk level associated to an industrial site with respect to the surrounding environment. To this end, an index is defined which consists of the contribution of three terms, expressing the scenario consequence severity, the safety management efficiency and the vulnerability of the surrounding environment. The present work focuses on this last aspect by determining the vulnerability of the area in the proximity of an industrial site from the contribution of classes of elements belonging to the categories of human, environmental and material targets. The applied methodology consists in identifying and quantifying the targets by means of a geographical information system (GIS) and in assessing the contribution of each target on the basis of a multicriteria decision approach (Saaty method). The result is an operational tool allowing competent authorities, industrialists and risk experts to assess the vulnerability of the area surrounding an industrial site.

Vulnerability of the environment in the proximity of an industrial site

Abstract: This work is carried out in the framework of the ARAMIS project, which aims at developing a comprehensive procedure for assessing the risk level associated to an industrial site with respect to the surrounding environment. To this end, an index is defined which consists of the contribution of three terms, expressing the scenario consequence severity, the safety management efficiency and the vulnerability of the surrounding environment. The present work focuses on this last aspect by determining the vulnerability of the area in the proximity of an industrial site from the contribution of classes of elements belonging to the categories of human, environmental and material targets. The applied methodology consists in identifying and quantifying the targets by means of a geographical information system (GIS) and in assessing the contribution of each target on the basis of a multicriteria decision approach (Saaty method). The result is an operational tool allowing competent authorities, industrialists and risk experts to assess the vulnerability of the area surrounding an industrial site.