Process Safety Management of Potentially Hazardous Chemical and Petroleum Processes

Unexpected release of toxic, reactive, or flammable liquids and gases in processes involving highly hazardous chemicals have occurred numerous times in industry. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that losses can be reduced tremendously if proper safety precautions and preparation at job sites are initiated.Elements of process safety management from both legal and technical viewpoints are discussed. Application of hazard evaluation methodologies to the safe design and operation of potentially hazardous chemical and petroleum processes are demonstrated. These procedures identify the hazards that exist, the consequences that might occur as a result of the hazards, the likelihood that events might take place that would cause an accident with such consequences, and the likelihood that the safety systems and emergency alarms and evaluation plans would function properly and eliminate or reduce the consequences.