Sigma-HSE Newsletter - October 2023
FREE Technical Webinar: Joint Presentation by our UK & USA Experts Understanding and Implementation of Hazardous Area Classification (HAC)
3pm (BST) Thursday 19th October 2023
A Hazardous Area Classification (HAC) study involves classifying an operating area based on the likelihood of ignition of flammable gas/vapor/combustible dust. It is a hazard and risk assessment that addresses the likelihood that an explosive atmosphere (flammable dust/air mixture) is present in a certain location and its level of persistence.
The driving force behind HAC is traditionally the need to ensure that electrical installations do not pose an ignition hazard in a plant handling flammable liquids, gases/vapours or combustible dusts.
In this webinar, we provide an overview of Hazardous Areas Classification (HAC) and information on how UK/European and US process companies use the data to create safe working environments and meet regulatory compliance.
From this joint presentation from our UK and US experts you will gain an understanding of:
The Event
When: Thursday, 19th October 2023 15:00 BST Where: Online, just register for free HERE.
Hazard Identification (HAZID): Identifying and Mitigating Process Risk
Hazard Identification (HAZID) is a systematic method for ensuring that all significant hazards are considered and all potential accident triggering events are identified.
The collaborative and team-based nature of the HAZID is appropriate for the design stage as it provides good information for later risk assessments.
If, for example, a plant is mainly manually operated and all scenarios for the loss of containment are aligned with human error, the HAZID will focus to a specific study aimed at reducing human error. Equally, if there is an automated plant and all scenarios discovered point to automation failures i.e., level transmitters or temperature transmitters, it might point to a functional safety study to reduce risk.
Recommended by LinkedIn
A HAZID can also be used to identify any necessary control measures that need to be put in place to ensure the safe operation of the facility or process (which can be evaluated further in a DSEAR assessment). Completing a HAZID before a DSEAR assessment allows for a more thorough and effective evaluation of potential risks and the implementation of necessary safety measures.
This initial step is important for identifying potential risks and prioritizing areas that need further investigation during the DSEAR.
For further insight on how we can assist you with HAZID studies please follow the link here.
How to Identify an Appropriate ‘Basis of Safety’ for Your Operations
The ‘Basis of Safety’ refers to the fundamental principles, standards, and safeguards put in place to prevent accidents and mitigate risks within the process industry. It serves as the philosophical foundation for ensuring that a process operates safely and reliably.
This combination of measures highlights aspects of design and operation that are safety critical. This overall safety strategy should consider the following:
Building a ‘Basis of Safety’ involves a systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to ensure safe operations. It is necessary to have as much relevant information as possible and should include:
Developing an appropriate ‘Basis of Safety’ is an ongoing process that requires commitment, vigilance, and a proactive approach to identifying and managing risks. To learn more, watch our previous webinar on demand HERE.
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.