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Making decisions about risks intrinsic to process safety design. Traditionally, to create a core design for a new process, engineers examine how the system could break down, determine the impact of system failures, and estimate their likelihood.

The present study focuses on the results from 16 PSM audits performed by ioMosaic between 2010 and 2016, at several different Chemical Process Industry (CPI) facilities. On the one hand, we have evaluated how well these facilities complied with the requirements of the OSHA PSM Standard (29 CFR 1910.119). On the other hand, the data from the audit findings has been compiled and statistically processed in order to specifically assess the findings related to Emergency Planning and Response, one of the 14 elements of the OSHA PSM.

Chatter is most likely in vapor service, damage will most likely be due to large mechanical forces caused by the rapid valve closure and/or by PRV reduced flow capacity due to PRV damage.

Adequate Emergency Relief Systems (ERS) design can ensure the safety and integrity of the system. However, not all desired chemical reactions or unstable mixtures present the same level of risk, and accordingly, not all of them require the same level of effort and time for ERS design.

Qualify your design methods for high-viscosity two-phase relief systems against these simple benchmarks. High viscosity two-phase (HVTP) flow occurs in many industrial scale reactors, particularly when runaway reactions (e.g., during polymerizations) are vented through an emergency relief system.

Sound safety culture is a pillar of the processing industry, linking the transformation of workplace safety into competency. Yet, safety culture is often underrepresented as a one-dimensional pyramid focused on group values, attitudes, beliefs, and norms.

This presentation emphasizes the unique contingencies applicable in the emergency relief system design of tray and packed columns used for mass-transfer operations. Attention is given to the internals of the column and their impact on such phenomena as flooding and obstruction to the flow required to attenuate pressure during an emergency relief.

Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) is a method for identifying and measuring contributions to a process facility's total risk. QRAs can provide stakeholders with a sound foundation for creating awareness about current hazards and risks. Potential risk-control or risk-reduction actions can be implemented and their impact appraised based on the results.

It is a matter of considerable practical importance to recognize metastable, potentially hazardous chemical compositions so that suitable thermal hazard management means can be provided as a part of process safety management.

Exothermic reaction processing must be concerned with potential consequences when heat released by the reaction exceeds that removed by the reactor coolant system, a situation known commonly as a runaway reaction.

A modern perspective on the problem of vapor cloud and explosions is given. Particular emphasis is placed on the important practical problem of detonation hazards.

The wall dynamics approach is based on the fundamental heat transfer equation outlined in API Standard 521 Pressure-Relieving and Depressurizing Systems. In this presentation, see a demonstration of the wall segmentation method using Process Safety Office® SuperChems™ and its advantages.

Once you get into process safety, you realize that it is really a way of life. You also realize that you have become a disciple of the “Power of Negative Thinking” mantra. We are always trying to prevent bad things from happening and to learn from incidents. It is not always about negative thinking though; in process safety we convert failures into lessons learned and future successes. That is why AIChE through CCPS, the Safety and Health Division, and DIERS, has made and continues to make the world a better and safer place.