HazardEx - Features

Applying risk and consequence modelling knowledge from the oil and gas industry to urban energy projects

19 August 2018

This year's 30th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster offers a timely opportunity to look back at the significant developments in risk and consequence software modelling, says David Price of Gexcon UK. The Public Inquiry into the accident, which claimed 167 lives, triggered increased attention in the assessment of risk from gas leaks and subsequent ignition leading to jet fire and explosion modelling....
How to speed up retrospective HAZOPs whilst achieving effective risk reduction

15 August 2018

This article by Graeme Ellis of ABB describes an approach for retrospective hazard reviews on existing facilities that combines Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies and Process Hazard Review (PHR) in a flexible and efficient manner, optimising the time required for busy operations-based teams....
Establishing reliable data communications within mining environments

24 July 2018

Whether recovering metals, coal or gemstones, an extremely competitive market demands that mining operations be as efficient as possible. In this article, Bo Jansson of Westermo looks at the critical role data communications play in mining operations and the absolute necessity of network reliability in ensuring production resilience and staff safety....
How to ensure your product complies with the 2014/68/EU Pressure Equipment Directive

23 July 2018

In 2016, the original Pressure Equipment Directive 97/23/EC was replaced by the 2014/68/EU Directive on Pressure Equipment. Here, technical consultant Ferry Vermuelen explains what you need to do as a manufacturer, importer or distributor of pressure equipment to comply with the new directive....
Bow-Tie Diagrams in the process industries

16 July 2018

Within the process industries Bow-Tie diagrams are becoming increasingly popular as a means of displaying hazards, consequences and the barriers, which prevent realisation of the hazard and mitigate the consequence. In this article, John Martin of ABB explains the background to barrier management, the uses and benefits of Bow-Tie diagrams and methods to ensure they are as useful as possible in whatever hazardous cenario they are employed. ...

Time to act on optical radiation from LED luminaires 20 June 2018

As LED technology improves year after year with more power output, the risks for hazardous areas continue to escalate. Standards and test protocols are only now just catching up, but it will take extra actions to close the gap, says Tarmo Rintala of Atexor Oy....

EDF Energy Nuclear Generation: a decade of transformation 15 June 2018

Over the last decade, the safety and operational performance of EDF Energy's UK nuclear plants has been transformed. After years of sustained improvement, combined safety and operational results now represent the best overall performance in the past 40 years and are, in many instances, world leading. ...

If you’re handling flammable materials, think electrostatic risks 12 June 2018

Electrostatics consultant Dr Jeremy Smallwood outlines basic precautions and tells some cautionary tales....

A guide to cost effective Hazardous Area Test and Inspection 06 June 2018

Anyone responsible for statutory compliance in hazardous areas will have views on the best ways in which this should be done, but it can be a daunting prospect to try and understand the requirements. In this article, Graham Doggett of Z-Tech offers an insight into how an inspection schedule can be managed to comply with BS60079 legislation, while at the same time using an approach to minimise expenditure....

Better Investigations – getting value from investigation methods and process 31 May 2018

In this article, two very experienced ex-regulatory investigators working for the BP group give a practical view of investigation as a process and an activity, rooted in a largely non-methodological approach. BP International Human Factors Advisor (Downstream) Simon Monnington and Independent Human Factors Consultant John Wilkinson here build on an earlier joint paper (Ref. 1) and update the ongoing case study, presented at the Hazardex 2017 Conference.