In contrast to nuclear plants and aerospace systems, human error is largely ignored in quantitative risk assessment for petroleum and chemical plants. Because of this, current risk analysis methods are able to calculate and predict only about one-third of the accidents happening in practice. Human Error in Process Plant Design and Operations: A Pra

Almost all the major accident investigations--Texas City, Piper Alpha, the Phillips 66 explosion, Feyzin, Mexico City--show human error as the principal cause, either in design, operations, maintenance, or the management of safety. This book provides practical advice that can substantially reduce human error at all levels. In eight chapters--packed with case studies and examples of simple and advanced techniques for new and existing systems--the book challenges the assumption that human error is "unavoidable." Instead, it suggests a systems perspective. This view sees error as a consequence of a mismatch between human capabilities and demands and inappropriate organizational culture. This makes error a manageable factor and, therefore, avoidable.

Plant Design and Operations provides practical guidance on the design, operation, and maintenance of process facilities. The book is based on years of hands-on experience gathered during the design and operation of a wide range of facilities in many different types of industry including chemicals, refining, offshore oil and gas, and pipelines. The book helps managers, engineers, operators, and maintenance specialists with advice and guidance that can be used right away in working situations. Each chapter provides information and guidance that can be used immediately. For example, the chapter on Energy Control Procedures describes seven levels of positive isolation — ranging from a closed block valve all the way to double block and bleed with line break. The Safety in Design chapter describes topics such as area classification, fire protection, stairways and platforms, fixed ladders, emergency showers, lighting, and alarms. Other areas covered in detail by the book include security, equipment, and transportation. A logical, practical guide to maintenance task organization is provided, from conducting a Job Hazards Analysis to the issue of a work permit, and to the shutdown and isolation of equipment. Common hazards are covered in detail, including flow problems, high pressure, corrosion, power failure, and many more. - Provides information to managers, engineers, operators and maintenance personnel which is immediately applicable to their operations - Supported by useful, real-world examples and experience from a wide range of facilities and industries - Includes guidance on occupational health and safety, industrial hygiene and personal protective equipment

This book shows how to identify potential design errors and modify procedures in the design process to mitigate design-induced error. Real life examples are used to demonstrate the points being made. Many of the concerns raised in the book have come from a worldwide study conducted with designers, managers, and end-users.

Recently, there have been a number of advances in technology, including in mobile devices, globalization of companies, display technologies and healthcare, all of which require significant input and evaluation from human factors specialists. Accordingly, this textbook has been completely updated, with some chapters folded into other chapters and new chapters added where needed. The text continues to fill the need for a textbook that bridges the gap between the conceptual and empirical foundations of the field.

BOW-TIE INDUSTRIAL RISK MANAGEMENT ACROSS SECTORS Explore an approachable but rigorous treatment of systematic barrier-based approaches to risk management and failure analysis In Bow-Tie Industrial Risk Management Across Sectors: A Barrier-Based Approach, accomplished researcher and author Luca Fiorentini delivers a practical guide to risk management tools, with a particular emphasis on a systematic barrier-based approach called “bow-tie.” The book includes discussions of two barrier-based methods, Bow-Tie and Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA), for risk assessment, and one barrier-based method for incident analysis, Barrier Failure Analysis (BFA). The author also describes a traditional method–Root Cause Analysis–and three quantitative methods–FMEA/FMECA, Fault Tree (FTA), and Event Tree (ETA) with a discussion about their link with barriers. Written from the ground up to be in full compliance with recent ISO 31000 standards on enterprise risk management, and containing several case studies and examples from a variety of industries, Bow-Tie Industrial Risk Management Across Sectors also contains discussions of international standards dealing with common risks faced by organizations, including occupational health and safety, industrial safety, functional safety, environmental, quality, business continuity, asset integrity, and information security. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to the Bow-Tie method, including its practical application in risk management workflow from ISO 31000, the history of Bow-Tie, related methods, and the application of Bow-Tie in qualitative and quantitative ways An exploration of Barrier Failure Analysis, including events, timelines, barriers, causation paths, and multi-level causes A practical discussion of how to build a Barrier Failure Analysis, including fact finding, event chaining, identifying barriers, assessing barrier states, causation analysis, and recommendations A concise treatment of Bow-Tie construction workflow, including a step-by-step guide Perfect for engineers and other professionals working in risk management, Bow-Tie Industrial Risk Management Across Sectors: A Barrier-Based Approach will also earn a place in the libraries of advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying risk management and seeking a one-stop reference on the “bow-tie” approach and barrier-based methods.

Human Factors Methods for Improving Performance in the Process Industries provides guidance for managers and plant engineering staff on specific, practical techniques and tools for addressing forty different human factors issues impacting process safety. Human factors incidents can result in injury and death, damage to the environment, fines, and business losses due to ruined batches, off-spec products, unplanned shutdowns, and other adverse effects. Prevention of these incidents increases productivity and profits. Complete with examples, case histories, techniques, and implementation methodologies, Human Factors Methods for Improving Performance in the Process Industries helps managers and engineering staff design and execute an efficient program. Organized for topical reference, the book includes: An overview on implementing a human factors program at the corporate level or the plant level, covering the business value, developing a program to meet specific needs, improving existing systems, roles and responsibilities, measures of performance, and more Summaries of forty different human factors relating to process safety, with a description of the tools, a practical example with graphics and visual aids, and additional resources Information on addressing the OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) requirement for conducting human factors reviews in process hazard analyses (PHAs) A CD-ROM with a color version of the book Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.