Enhanced Risk Management through Effective Evaluation

Unidentified or under estimated process hazards, the way of risk controlling and managing are the major concern in chemical process industries that could lead to chemical release, fire or Explosion. Risk evaluation studies provide organizations with information to help in making decisions for Improving safety and managing the risk of operations. In SAFCO, We usually focus on process Safety issues like acute effects of unplanned chemical releases on plant personnel or the public during all kinds of Hazard evaluations. We typically analyze potential equipment failures, human errors and gaps in the management systems of our organization's process safety program that can lead to incidents. In-line with above SAFCO process safety requirements, we have implement strong program for identifying hazards, analyzing, controlling and managing risks. In SAFCO, we have comprehensive program for management system and the following are risk identification approach and input for risk evaluation:

• Deficiency in process safety information.

• Gaps identified in Operations and Maintenance practices.

• Implement of industrial best practices during gap analysis.

• Training and competency during organizational changes.

• Compliance Audit findings.

• EHSS Violations, Non-conformances & Penalties.

• Process Hazard analysis findings.

• Health Assessment findings.

• Environmental Assessment findings.

• Pre Start-up EHSS Review findings.

• Mechanical Integrity related deferments or findings.

• Management of Change findings.

• Incidents Investigations findings.

• Emergency Planning & Response findings.

All SAFCO employees can initiate risk identification but most of the time it has been initiated by concerned plant operations or respective management system administrator.

The selected, dedicated and competent risk assessment multidisciplinary team has been allotted for the each operating unit and additional member shall be added based on requirements.

The team has to provide appropriate recommendation to reduce risk to tolerable level with respect to corporate risk management procedural guidance during their risk evaluation.

Approval authority, accountability and responsibilities have been set to continue the operating unit with identified risk if the risk mitigation action is not able to implement immediately.

Approval level shall be vary based on level of risk and it is starting from Senior manager plant operations, General manager Operations and Company President.

Periodic audit / field verification is being conducted on all active risk items by the respective risk assessment team and report the gaps to company management accordingly.

Active risk item shall be closed after implementing the recommended mitigation actions and confirmed by respective risk assessment team through field verification.

All active risk items and their evaluations are being maintained by company focal person, which is periodically shared with corporate level, company higher management and stakeholders as part of tracking and closing.

All identified risk and its evaluation with recommendations are being shared with other units/plants risk assessment team of our complex as cross functionalization to evaluate the applicability and corrective actions if required.

This is consider under quality enhancement, knowledge sharing and lesson learnt.

By implementing this approach, our organization benefited as follows

• Enrichment process safety culture,

• Improved training and understanding of the process,

• Reduced consequences of process safety events,

• Improved emergency response,

• More efficient and productive operations,

• Improved involvement of stakeholders,

• Improved process safety documentation,

• Improved operational / Maintenance Excellency,

• Improved regulatory and community relations.

This paper is demonstrate the importance of risk identification, evaluation work practices, procedures, challenges faced during implementation and benefits on process safety.