Computers & Chemical Engineering, Vol.19, No.S, 453-458, 1995
Risk Assessment - An Object-Oriented Tool for the Rapid Evaluation of Liquid Spill Potential and Loss Prevention
ICI has developed over many years a comprehensive approach to loss prevention via its 6 stage hazard study methodology for Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE) protection. More recently, regulatory requirements have reinforced the need to reduce the SHE risks arising from process operations to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable. The integrity of existing operations, which predate the rigorous application of the hazard study approach, are regularly reviewed and assessed given best current practise on design and operating standards. It is apparent from such studies that considerable specialist expertise and plant manpower is required to perform such an assessment adequately. This paper, therefore, describes the development of a rapid evaluation technique to help facilitate the assessment of environmental risks from process plant and the effectiveness of tank bunding. The technique, Rapid Assessment of Spill Potential (RASP), builds on and adapts well proven ideas used in the Hazard Study methodology. These ideas have been incorporated into a flexible modelling tool based on object oriented techniques.