Sigma-HSE Newsletter - April 2024
FREE On-Demand Webinar - Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRA) Managing Chemical Process Risk
Risk to business, people, workplace, and the environment can arise from industrial/manufacturing processes that do not follow predicted behaviour. The standard approach to chemical process safety, is to apply risk management systems theory.
This includes recognition of the hazards posed by the process, and a continual effort to analyse the risks and to reduce or control them to the lowest levels practicable, while balancing other business objectives.
Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) is widely used in the process industry to assess the impact of loss of containment events on the plant and its surroundings. Key design modifications and economic decisions are taken based on the outcome of the study. It is the preferred method of hazard evaluation based on numerical estimation of incident frequency and consequences.
This webinar will provide and understanding of:
Speaker: Dr Mark Bunch – Senior Process Safety Consultant
Where: Online, just register for free HERE.
Selecting the Right Data to Mitigate Electrostatic Hazards
An electrostatic ignition source is a discharge (commonly referred to as a spark) resulting from the accumulation of electrostatic charge. Electrostatic charge generation most frequently occurs when any two materials – liquids and/or solids – contact each other and then separate.
The generation and accumulation of electrostatic charge is not generally in and of itself hazardous. Rather, a hazard is created when the static accumulation gives rise to electrostatic discharges that are sufficiently energetic to ignite a surrounding combustible dust, flammable liquid, or gas atmosphere.
Some dangers posed by static electricity are:
• Electric shock due to the flow of current through the body, causing a person everything from an uncomfortable zap to falls, burns, or stopping the heart
• Fires or explosions due to the ignition of flammable or explosive mixtures
• Production disturbances in the processing of paper, plastics, composites, powder, granules, and liquids
• Damage to electronic equipment and components from electrostatic discharge (ESD)
• Damage to mechanical components such as bearings due to sparking through the oil films on the bearing surface
Proper assessment of electrostatic hazards requires certain information on the properties of the plant and the materials handled/processed.
• Minimum Ignition Energy of flammable atmospheres*
• Resistance to Ground of conductive (metal) plant and objects**
• Resistance to Ground of operator footwear and floors**
• Volume Resistivity of powders*
• Volume Resistivity of hoses*
• Conductivity of liquids*
• Surface Resistivity of container and liners*
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• Electrostatic Chargeability of powders and liquids*/**
*Lab Measurement
** Onsite Measurement
For guidance on how you can select the right test for your electrostatic problem please follow the link below to learn more from our web page and review our webinar recording covering this topic.
Are You DSEAR Compliant? Regulation 7 Under the Microscope
In such a high-risk industry, how can you ensure that the DSEAR assessment that you have undertaken satisfies the regulators and ensures safety in your workplace, especially as you have dangerous substances present?
At Sigma-HSE we have undertaken hundreds of DSEAR assessments, DSEAR reviews and follow on process safety management projects across a range of industries and have found a glaring gap when it comes to external DSEAR risk assessments – non-conformance with Regulation 7.
The Hazardous Area Classification (HAC) is a specific requirement of the DSEAR Regulations – Regulation 7. Regulation 7 specifically pertains to the assessment and classification of zones where potentially explosive atmospheres may occur. This regulation outlines the systematic approach that businesses must adopt to identify areas where the presence of dangerous substances could lead to the formation of explosive atmospheres.
DSEAR plays a key role in managing the risks associated with dangerous substances and explosive atmospheres and focuses on ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals in the workplace.
We have lost count of the number of DSEAR assessments we have seen that recommend the client to undertake a Hazardous Area Classification. DSEAR Regulation 7 clearly states that the HAC is a specific requirement. If your DSEAR risk assessment report does not contain a HAC, send it back to your provider.
From the Engineers’ Desk
DSEAR assessment of High Flashpoint Liquids with the Risk of Mist Formation
Recent feedback from our Engineers on DSEAR assessment has highlighted that manufacturing sites often handle materials with flashpoints above 60degC, and therefore technically “non flammable”, for example materials such as lubricating or hydraulic oils, or other organic fluids. However, research has shown that if materials such as these are released under pressure, for example from a flange leak, a mist can result which may be flammable, and therefore needs to be considered in a DSEAR risk assessment. This is often overlooked when a DSEAR is undertaken.
Although the risk is low, it needs to be assessed by considering the intrinsic properties of the material, the integrity of the equipment, and the likelihood of a mist being formed (dependant primarily on the pressure involved and the physical properties of the fluid that might make it more likely to form small droplets).
Using available guidance, such risks can be assessed, and prevention or mitigation measures defined. A number of strategies are possible, including improving equipment integrity, “capturing” any such releases using proprietary flange guards, and ensuring that equipment within potential “misting” zones are suitably specified.
Resources Library Learning from our Process Safety Experts
To access our repository of technical articles and on-demand webinars, providing a wealth of insight into mitigating fire and explosion risk, check out our website resources page.