How to make inherent safety practice a reality
TL;DR: In recent years, there has been an increased effort to develop inherently safer chemical processes, focusing on changing the process to eliminate hazards, rather than accepting the hazards and developing add-on features to control them as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: In recent years there has been an increased effort to develop inherently safer chemical processes, focusing on changing the process to eliminate hazards, rather than accepting the hazards and developing add-on features to control them. This paper discusses design approaches to inherently safer processing, including examples of inherent safety principles. The paper also presents a state-of-the-art review of the initiatives taken by various groups and agencies worldwide to promote inherent safety, and the tools developed to measure inherent safety for chemical processes. The discussion concludes with thoughts on why inherent safety is not yet a routine practice for accomplishing risk reduction, and suggestions for ways to make it routine (with reference to a brief case study).
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TL;DR: The Green ChemisTrees as discussed by the authors is a showcase for the diversity of research and achievements stemming from green chemistry, inspired by tree diagrams that illustrate diversity of products stemming from raw materials.
Abstract: The field of Green Chemistry has seen many scientific discoveries and inventions during the 20 years since the 12 Principles were first published. Inspired by tree diagrams that illustrate diversity of products stemming from raw materials, we present here the Green ChemisTREE as a showcase for the diversity of research and achievements stemming from Green Chemistry. Each branch of the Green ChemisTREE represents one of the 12 Principles, and the leaves represent areas of inquiry and development relevant to that Principle (branch). As such, in this ‘meta-review’, we aim to describe the history and current status of the field of Green Chemistry: by exploring activity within each Principle, by summarizing the benefits of Green Chemistry through robust examples, by discussing tools and metrics available to measure progress towards Green Chemistry, and by outlining knowledge gaps, opportunities, and future challenges for the field.
438 citations
01 Jan 1999
171 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a conceptual framework of an integrated inherent safety index (I2SI), which is composed of subindices which account for hazard potential, inherent safety potential, and add-on control requirements.
Abstract: Inherent safety is a proactive approach for loss prevention and risk management. Considering the lifetime costs of a process and its operation, an inherent safety approach can lead to a cost-optimal option. Inherent safety may be achieved at any stage of process design; however, its application at the early stages of process design yields the best results. Despite being an attractive and cost-effective approach, the inherent safety methodology is not widely used. Many reasons have been attributed to this lack of widespread use; the nonavailability of systematic tools for the application of inherent safety principles is perhaps the most important reason.
This paper presents a conceptual framework of an integrated inherent safety index (I2SI). It is called an integrated index because the procedure, when fully developed, is intended to consider the life cycle of the process with economic evaluation and hazard potential identification for each option. The I2SI is composed of subindices which account for hazard potential, inherent safety potential, and add-on control requirements. An application of the I2SI is also discussed. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 23: 136–148, 2004
170 citations
TL;DR: An integrated inherent safety index (I2SI) was presented at the 37th Annual Loss Prevention Symposium of the AIChE (2003) and published in Process Safety Progress (volume 23(2), 136-148, 2004) as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: This paper presents details of an integrated inherent safety index (I2SI) The conceptual framework of this index was presented at the 37th Annual Loss Prevention Symposium of the AIChE (2003) and published in Process Safety Progress (volume 23(2), 136–148, 2004) In addition to the framework, the current paper discusses additional features of the index such as the cost model and system design model, which were not presented or discussed earlier I2SI is called an integrated index because the procedure considers the life cycle of the process with economic evaluation and hazard potential identification for each option I2SI is comprised of sub-indices which account for hazard potential, inherent safety potential, and add-on control requirements In addition to evaluating these respective characteristics, there are also indices that measure the economic potential of the option To demonstrate the applicability and efficacy of I2SI, an application of the index to three acrylic acid production options is also discussed in the paper
164 citations
TL;DR: A review of the use of inert dusts to reduce the risk of dust explosions through both prevention and mitigation schemes is presented in this paper, with appropriate reference to the work of other researchers.
Abstract: This paper is a review of the use of inert dusts to reduce the risk of dust explosions through both prevention and mitigation schemes. The review is conducted by referring primarily to the research results of the author and his colleagues in this area, with appropriate reference to the work of other researchers. A functional distinction is first made between inerting and suppression by explaining each term within the contexts of explosion prevention and explosion mitigation, respectively. The use of solid inertants is then described in terms of the various inhibitor and situation-specific parameters that can influence their effectiveness. Finally, application examples of the research results are given for research laboratories, test facilities, design engineers, and industrial practitioners.
161 citations
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01 Jan 1999
171 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a new index named Safety Weighted Hazard Index (SWeHI) was proposed to measure the impact of safety measures on the values of the hazard indices, which can be used to identify the more hazardous units from the less hazardous ones so that greater attention can be paid to the former.
Abstract: Indices are extensively used for ranking various units of a chemical process industry on the basis of the hazards they pose of accidental fires, explosions and/or toxic release. This type of ranking enables the professionals to identify the more hazardous units from the less hazardous ones so that greater attention can be paid to the former. The available indices—including the well-known Dow and Mond indices, and the author's HIRA (hazard identification and ranking analysis, Khan and Abbasi, 1 )—rank chemical process units mainly in terms of the hazardous substances and operating conditions associated with the concerned units. Dow and Mond indices do consider some factors (‘off setting index values’ in the case of the Mond Index and ‘credits factor’ in the case of the Dow index) to account for the safety measures existing or planned in the unit, but much greater rigour, accuracy, and precision are needed in quantifying the impact of safety measures on the values of the hazard indices. In this context, an attempt has been made to develop a new index, named here the Safety Weighted Hazard Index (SWeHI). The details are presented in this paper.
157 citations
TL;DR: The aim of this work is to extend the computerized method for process pre-design to encompass safety aspects by integrating the synthesis method into an existing computer aided process design tool.
Abstract: The aim of this work is to extend the computerized method for process pre-design to encompass safety aspects. Emphasis is on the choice between different process concepts. The synthesis method is integrated into an existing computer aided process design tool. The method is based on six databanks which contain hazardous properties of chemical compounds and knowledge of safe and unsafe process concepts. The first stage of the method is a rule-based synthesis where safety rules are combined with process rules. The second step includes a safety analysis of synthetized alternatives which is done by calculating safety indices based on the safety properties of chemicals processed and the structure and conditions of the process.
137 citations
TL;DR: Inherent safety is a proactive approach for hazard/risk management during process plant design and operation as mentioned in this paper, and it has been proven that, considering the lifetime costs of a process and its operation, an inherently safer approach is a cost-optimal option.
Abstract: Inherent safety is a proactive approach for hazard/risk management during process plant design and operation. It has been proven that, considering the lifetime costs of a process and its operation, an inherently safer approach is a cost-optimal option. Inherent safety can be incorporated at any stage of design and operation; however, its application at the earliest possible stages of process design (such as process selection and conceptual design) yields the best results. Although it is an attractive and cost-effective approach to hazard/risk management, inherent safety has not been used as widely as other techniques such as HAZOP and quantitative risk assessment. There are many reasons responsible for this; key among them are a lack of awareness and the non-availability of a systematic methodology and tools. The inherent safety approach is the best option for hazard/risk management in offshore oil and gas activities. In the past, it has been applied to several aspects of offshore process design and operation. However, its use is still limited. This article attempts to present a complete picture of inherent safety application in offshore oil and gas activities. It discuses the use of available technology for implementation of inherent safety principles in various offshore activities, both current and planned for the future.
126 citations