Risk ranking methodology for development of prioritization rationale and determination of priority order for conducting PHAs

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:148014

Mannan, M; Bily, V J ^[1]

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1. RMT/Jones and Neuse, Inc., Austin, TX (United States)

The OSHA Process Safety Management rule requires covered facilities to develop and implement a holistic program to prevent or minimize the consequences of catastrophic releases of toxic, reactive, flammable, or explosive chemicals. A process hazards analysis is the centerpiece of the PSM rule. Process hazards analyses using specified methods must be conducted by all covered facilities by May 1997 and reviewed every five years from then. The objective of the process hazards analysis is a systematic review of what could go wrong and what safeguards must be implemented to prevent releases of hazardous chemicals. Paragraph (e) of the PSM rule specifically states that ``the priority order for conducting process hazards analysis (be) based on a rationale which includes such considerations as extent of the process hazards, number of potentially affected employees, age of the process, and operating history of the process``. This paper presents a systematic semi-quantitative methodology for developing the prioritization rationale and choosing the priority order for conducting process hazards analyses. The risk ranking methodology presented in this paper uses a weighted overall risk ranking index that takes into consideration all issues required by the OSHA rule. In addition, the methodology can be adapted to specific plants or corporate cultures to cover other issues as may be necessary.

• OSTI ID: 148014
• Report Number(s): CONF-950152--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
ACCIDENTS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILLS
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFEGUARD REGULATIONS
SAFETY ANALYSIS