Preparing for the Unplanned Event
When dealing with high hazard chemicals or volatile explosives, it is not enough to analyze only those hazards associated with normal operations: those times when the process works as expected. You need to analyze for unexpected or unplanned events. To do that you can use analytical tools such as:
- Job Hazard Analysis (JHA): This is a tool to identify hazards associated with a particular job or task. Hazards are identified and recorded. Control measures are developed for each hazard in each step of the task.
- What-if analysis: This is a technique using brainstorming to determine what can go wrong in specific scenarios and identify the resulting consequences.
- Checklists: This is a structured process for hazard/risk assessment and is the most commonly-used method. There are two basic types of checklists: process-based and behavior-based.
- Hazard and operability study (HAZOP): This is a technique whereby a multidisciplinary team uses a described protocol to methodically evaluate the significance of deviations from the normal design intention.
- Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA): This is an evaluation of the means that equipment can fail or be used improperly, and the effects this failure can have on the process.
- Fault-tree analysis: This is a graphical model that illustrates combinations of failures that will cause one specific failure of interest. It uses Boolean logic symbols to break down the causes of an event into basic equipment or human failure.
Using the methods above, you can determine most of the possible process breakdowns. You then can design prevention/controls for the likely causes of these unwanted events.
For additional information on Process Hazard Analysis, see OSHA's Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals standard, 1910.119 and OSHA Publication 3133, Process Safety Management - Guidelines for Compliance.
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4-8. Which analytical tool is used to identify hazards associated with a particular job or task?
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