Cheddar or Swiss? How strong are your barriers?

This article describes a company's experience with process safety metrics and describes systematic methods to improve safety performance. As a result of a major accident, an internal investigation identified that although a site may have numerous measures for tracking operational and safety performance, these measures may not focus on leading indicators that could provide early warning of potential major incidents. To systematically reduce incidents, especially, low probability high consequence process safety events, it is necessary to focus on prevention and specifically the strength of the barriers. The approach described in this article, therefore, aims to create a combination of Process Safety Performance Indicators that lead to stronger more robust barriers. While industrial history tells us that such high consequence events are infrequent, this significant process safety risk is always present in production operations, and thus needs to be continuously assessed and reduced through systematic safety management. Within one company, this recognition has resulted in a substantial strengthening of process safety risk management through a more comprehensive system of controls embedded within its new Operating Management System, which is being implemented at the site level across all of its operations globally. This article explores the ongoing methodology and approach being used to select a limited but crucial set of Process Safety Performance Indicators to enable effective measurement and the appropriate management of process safety performance. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2009     

QRA of chemical reaction systems: The state of the practice

This paper discusses a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) of an exothermic chemical process. Fault tree/event tree techniques were used to estimate the frequency of runaway reactions that could result in over-pressure and vessel rupture. The paper focuses on the current methodology used in performing this type of study, emphasizing analytical techniques that help avoid potential time-consuming pitfalls. The challenging problem of predicting how rare sequences of events (e.g., involving failure of several engineered control and safety systems) will develop is systematically modeled using fault trees/event trees, which makes the QRA process a unique and powerful analytical tool. The results of this study provided the guidance for selecting the most appropriate action(s) to implement from a set of various design options for improving the safety of this system. Use of QRA has enabled plant management to have confidence that they are selecting the most cost-effective safety improvement option.     

电力企业定量风险评估理论方法探讨

电力企业定量风险评估(QRA)是一项涵盖并以安全工程、可靠性工程、风险分析等为基础的综合研究。针对电力工业自身的特点及电力市场化改革的进程,阐述了电力企业QRA的基本思想、流程框架、主要工作内容及基本方法。通过实施QRA,可帮助电力企业全面识别风险,有利于电力企业将风险水平控制在规定水平之内,并针对风险作出正确、合理的决策。     

油气管道第三方破坏风险管理效能评估方法研究

在油气管道第三方破坏风险管理效能评估中,存在十分复杂的影响因素和关联性。针对第三方破坏风险管理的特点,依据事故过程关联因素建立效能评估指标体系,运用多属性决策效能评估加权的TOPSIS方法,对从5个不同管道公司获取的指标调查结果进行整体性效能综合评估。其中,利用改进的灰靶理论的贡献度算法确定加权TOPSIS方法中的各指标权重。应用案例分析表明,这种方法的评估结果具有一定的准确性和合理性。     

Improving process safety by addressing the human element

Celanese had several process safety incidents and near misses in 1996. Although there were several root causes, this article will address only one of them; human error. The system which was developed by Celanese to improve this human element is the conduct of operations system. The conduct of operations system has improved process safety performance of the human element by focusing on three operational areas: training, procedures, and general operations. Conduct of operations is a proactive approach to improve the current practices, improve the support systems and the behavior of the operator. The benefits include the following:

• Consistent application of training and procedures
• Reduction in human error, and
• Less process safety incidents

This article will describe the need for and the content of conduct of operations system as implemented by Celanese. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2009     

质量风险管理的研究与应用

风险在生产活动中普遍存在,企业如何使风险处于预测和控制当中,是企业保持持续发展要尽力规避的。本世纪初,各企业普遍引入质量管理体系、职业健康安全管理体系,使得以顾客为关注焦点的质量管理和以风险管理为核心的安全管理模式推动了质量管理、安全管理的发展与进步。为此,在引入质量管理体系的同时,将风险管理的思想和方法应用到了质量管理之中,同时将影响质量的人、机、料、法、环、测“5M1E”因素增加了一个“处置”因素,使质量管理的手段和方法得到了进一步创新和深化,基础得到进一步夯实,管理得到规范和细致,取得了明显的效果。     

Consumer perceptions of best practice in food risk communication and management: Implications for risk analysis policy

As a consequence of recent food safety incidents, consumer trust in European food safety management has diminished. A risk governance framework that formally institutes stakeholder (including consumer) consultation and dialogue through a transparent and accountable process has been proposed, with due emphasis on risk communication. This paper delivers actionable policy recommendations based on consumer preferences for different approaches to food risk management. These results suggest that risk communication should be informed by knowledge of consumer risk perceptions and information needs, including individual differences in consumer preferences and requirements, and differences in these relating to socio-historical context associated with regulation. In addition, information about what is being done to identify, prevent and manage food risks needs to be communicated to consumers, together with consistent messages regarding preventative programs, enforcement systems, and scientific uncertainty and variability associated with risk assessments. Cross-cultural differences in consumer perception and information preferences suggest a national or regional strategy for food risk communication may be more effective than one applied at a pan-European level.     

Management of quantitative risk assessment in the chemical process industry

Growing concern about the risk of major chemical accidents in the U.S. has led both government and industry to find new ways to identify and evaluate potential hazards. Among the most promising (and misunderstood) approaches is a collection of techniques called quantitative risk assessment (QRA). Adapted primarily from probabilistic risk assessment approaches developed in other industries, the use of QRA is spreading rapidly through the U.S. chemical industry. Of equal importance, legislators and regulatory agencies at the state and federal level are making QRA an integral part of their proposals for mandatory accident prevention measures. This paper summarizes a workshop on QRA that was presented at the International Conference and Workshop on Process Safety Management, sponsored by the AIChE Center for Chemical Process Safety, in Toronto during May 1990. It is based on A Manager's Guide to QRA [1] developed for the Chemical Manufacturers Association. This paper gives an overview of the Guide and discusses important implications concerning the increasing acceptance of QRA as a chemical regulatory tool.     

综合系统的安全管理

应用综合的系统的方法将全面的质量管理应用到安全管理中，形成全员参与、全过程管理、全方位保证的安全管理新局面，有组织有系统的完成我们的安全管理工作。     

Identifying risk issues and research advancements in supply chain risk management

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the research development in supply chain risk management (SCRM), which has shown an increasing global attention in recent years. Literature survey and citation/co-citation analysis are used to fulfil the research task. Literature survey has undertaken a thorough search of articles on selected journals relevant to supply chain operations management. Meanwhile, citation/co-citation analysis uses Web of Sciences database to disclose SCRM development between 1995 and 2009. Both the approaches show similar trends of rising publications over the past 15 years. This review has piloted us to identify and classify the potential risk associated with different flows, namely material, cash and information flows. Consequently, we identify some research gaps. Even though there is a pressing need and awareness of SCRM from industrial aspect, quantitative models in the field are relatively lacking and information flow risk has received less attention. It is also interesting to observe the evolutions and advancements of SCRM discipline. One finding is that the intellectual structure of the field made statistically significant increase during 2000-2005 and evolved from passively reacting to vague general issues of disruptions towards more proactively managing supply chain risk from system perspectives.     

PSM system upgrade in response to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration NEP inspection

This article presents a brief analysis of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Petroleum Refinery Process Safety Management National Emphasis Program (NEP) citation results as of early 2009. It includes trends distilled from the OSHA inspections performed to date. Recommendations for preparing for PSM NEP level inspections are provided. A proven approach to designing and implementing an upgrade project for OSHA process safety management systems and EPA risk management program is described. The model presented can be targeted to a facility's NEP specific citations or used for a general PSM system effectiveness upgrade. This article includes recommendations for improving PSM as a result of an NEP inspection. The recommendations are for the PSM elements that routinely have major OSHA citations; that is: Operating Procedures, Mechanical Integrity, Process Hazards Analysis, Process Safety Information, Management of Change, and Incident Investigations. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog 2009     

工贸企业危险化学品使用安全现状探析

为进一步加强危险化学品使用环节的规范化,对广东省M市工贸企业危险化学品的使用情况进行了广泛调研,并选取141家重点企业作为研究对象,利用大数据和粗糙集的约简功能,分别确定一级安全指标(安全资料、储存场所、使用场所)的18项二级安全指标的权重,并据此对使用危险化学品的工贸企业进行事故隐患分析。结果表明:工贸企业危险化学品使用过程中应将风险管理重点放到物理危险的管控上,其中易燃液体、加压气体、金属腐蚀物、易燃气体、氧化性液体的总占比达到91.6%,普遍具有火灾、爆炸、腐蚀等风险;权重结果显示,安全资料方面没有显著问题存在,储存场所中安全警示标志和仓储管理问题较突出,使用场所中需重点整治安全警示标志、防火间距、防雷与静电的问题。研究结果对工贸企业构建覆盖危险化学品使用的安全风险管控长效机制具有指导意义。     

论我国地方政府债务管理制度的构建

面对我国地方政府债务规模膨大,2009年地方政府债券的正式发行,国际金融危机对控制地方政府债务风险的要求和我国地方政府债务管理制度严重缺失的现状,地方政府债务管理制度应坚持＂全国统一,高标准,严要求,责任落实和风险控制第一＂的原则来设计,完备地方政府债务管理制度的相关法律,建立地方政府债务过程管理制度、责任终身追究制度、＂三位一体＂监督管理制度和＂红黄绿灯＂网络风险预警机制。     

模块化在制造企业知识管理战略设计中的应用--我国航空企业国际转包生产的模块化战略分析

本文提出制造业企业应用模块化方法进行战略性知识管理的概念和主要类别。特别针对航空机制造业企业分析模块化方法的适用形式和局限性。飞机制造是介于集成方式和分解方式之间的复杂产品制造体系 ,模块化知识管理有战略意义 ,但也有局限性。研究指出 ,模块化方法仅适用于允许“适度失控”的产品 ,对飞机及发动机等“禁止失控”的复杂产品类型 ,系统集成商会拥有相对高的技术和知识优势 ,而模块制造商的创新空间很小。表现在我国参与飞机转包生产的企业对国外企业的依赖程度高 ;根据实际调查和本文的分析 ,我国企业可以通过通用模块制造技术向专用模块制造技术的过渡 ,逐渐实现有自己知识产权的黑箱型技术资源     

MNC foreign investment and industrial disasters: The moderating role of technological,safety management,and philanthropic capabilities

Research Summary: We investigate how industrial disasters can discourage FDI and how MNCs' technological, safety management, and philanthropic capabilities can moderate these effects. Using two unique panel data sets of entry and expansion of U.S. wholly‐owned manufacturing subsidiaries overseas, we found that industrial disasters are associated with reduced foreign entry of wholly‐owned subsidiaries in the disaster industry, but not for all firms in the host country experiencing the disaster. We also found that MNCs' technological, safety management, and philanthropic capabilities can, in some cases, positively moderate the negative relationships between industrial disasters and the foreign entry and expansion of wholly‐owned subsidiaries. Additionally, three‐way interactions with government stability suggest that technological and safety management capabilities substitute government stability in managing industrial disasters, while philanthropic capability complements government stability. Managerial Summary: How can MNCs' technological, safety management, and philanthropic capabilities overcome the effects of industrial disasters such as chemical spills and explosions in host countries? Our results show that industrial disasters are associated with reduced foreign entry of wholly‐owned subsidiaries in the industry in which the industrial disaster occurs, but not for other firms operating in the country experiencing the disaster. However, an MNC's technological capability can, in general, lower the negative consequences of industrial disasters in both the entry and expansion of its wholly‐owned subsidiaries. Regarding the institutional quality of a host country, the results imply that MNCs should develop philanthropic capability when the government stability of the host country is strong, and develop technological and safety management capabilities when the government stability is weak.     

关于钻井公司建立能源管理体系的策划

通过对GB/T 23331-2009《能源管理体系要求》的学习和研究,结合钻井公司的实际情况,以建立实施钻井公司质量管理体系和职业健康安全环保管理体系的切身体会和经验,按照PDCA循环,从领导决策与准备、初始能源管理评审、能源管理体系策划与设计、能源管理体系文件编制、能源管理体系试运行和能源管理体系内部审核和管理评审6个方面,对建立钻井公司能源管理体系进行了总体策划。     

大庆油田高危风险井识别和管控

大庆油田油田不同区块发育的异常高压区、易漏区、浅气和溶解气等,增加了井下作业各类施工的难度和风险。借助于大庆油田高危区域风险预警系统的支持,对油田施工井进行高危区域和高危井的梳理和排查,建立有效的高危井安全施工管理和保障体系,对高危施工井实施升级管理,强化高危井现场施工的组织、监督和管理,有效降低异常井发生率,节约了企业安全费用和管理成本,实现了规模化和常态化施工,现场应用效果显著。     

谈如何保证纠正预防措施的有效性

通过某车间的产品不合格实例,运用质量工具分析方法,指出产品出现不合格问题的具体原因,并提出了如何进行纠正和预防措施的制定、实施和验证等几个方面的工作,从而保持企业质量管理体系运行的有效性及质量管理体系的持续性改进．确保纠正和预防措施的有效性。     

体系认证推动了基层管理水平的提高

管理体系国际标准是一种先进的管理思想，企业引入这种管理理论对企业管理将会起推动作用，体系认证就是这种理论在企业的具体实践。将质量管理体系、环境管理体系、职业健康安全管理体系在企业进行整合应用，又是企业管理理念的一种创新思维。通过实践，使管理者尝到甜头，企业整体水平得到提高，给参与市场竞争带来机遇。     

Bridging the generation gap: Expert systems as part of large scale computer systems

Using expert system technology in industrial applications often involves the construction of programs of which the knowledge base is only a part and which have to be integrated into existing hardware and software environments. At Shell Research at Thornton it has been found that even within well explored areas such as fault diagnosis there is a need to incorporate non-expert tools within a knowledge system in order to perform tasks such as database management, screen handling and substantial numerical calculation. This is not always easy. A system to determine diesel engine condition from an analysis of the used oil has been developed using the SAGE package and subsequently redeveloped in Prolog to over-come such integration problems. An interesting side effect has been the discovery of the usefulness of Prolog in solving long standing problems concerning user access to complex relational databases.