Qualitative methods for assessing risk

Technical Report · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/71621· OSTI ID:71621

Mahn, J A ^[1]; Hannaman, G W ^[2]; Kryska, P ^[3]

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1. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. Science Applications International Corp., San Diego, CA (United States)
3. Science Applications International Corp., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The Department of Energy`s (DOE) non-nuclear facilities generally require only a qualitative accident analysis to assess facility risks in accordance with DOE Order 5481.1B, Safety Analysis and Review System. Achieving a meaningful qualitative assessment of risk necessarily requires the use of suitable non-numerical assessment criteria. Typically, the methods and criteria for assigning facility-specific accident scenarios to the qualitative severity and likelihood classification system in the DOE order requires significant judgment in many applications. Systematic methods for more consistently assigning the total accident scenario frequency and associated consequences are required to substantiate and enhance future risk ranking between various activities at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). SNL`s Risk Management and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Department has developed an improved methodology for performing qualitative risk assessments in accordance wi the DOE order requirements. Products of this effort are an improved set of qualitative description that permit (1) definition of the severity for both technical and programmatic consequences that may result from a variety of accident scenarios, and (2) qualitative representation of the likelihood of occurrence. These sets of descriptions are intended to facilitate proper application of DOE criteria for assessing facility risks.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 71621
• Report Number(s): SAND--95-0320; ON: DE95011834
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

57 HEALTH AND SAFETY
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
COMPLIANCE
DECISION MAKING
ORGANIZATIONAL MODELS
PROBABILISTIC ESTIMATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY ANALYSIS
US DOE