TSA Insight Magazine Issue 22 - Magazine - Page 27
Spotlight
Holistic Process Safety Support – from cradle to
grave
As we move towards achieving net
zero, our industry faces new and
evolving challenges. The innovative
technologies and processes create
unknowns without precedent in
existing industry or substantial
operating experience to learn from.
The new materials to be adopted
with the decarbonisation process
have distinct chemical properties
and behaviours, which need to be
understood such that the risks of
handling them can be appropriately
managed. There will also be a
number of new entrants moving into
the realm of process safety, who
lack the experience and knowledge
of working within the high hazard
industries.
In order to effectively manage these
developments, we believe that the
existing toolkit for risk management
should be implemented, applying
established techniques in process
safety management to evaluate
the novel hazards involved. For new
technologies utilising recognised
tools
can
support
effective
risk management, to build our
understanding as an industry.
RAS support a range of clients at
different points in their operational
timespan from brand new facilities
through to aging assets. Different
techniques and studies are applied
at each stage within a plant
lifetime, reflecting the unique risk
to be managed throughout an
establishment timeline. The start
of the timeline may constitute pilot
plants, new development projects
through to brand new facilities and
the risk management approach
should be proportional to the risk and
level of complexity: very complex
plants with a higher risk profile will
require a greater level of detail in any
assessment versus a smaller, more
straightforward process with low risk.
For an early-stage project, it is most
important to understand material
properties and consider aspects
such as layout and location, such that
inherent safety can be maximised.
For an existing complex site there
are unlikely to be significant gains
from applying the same kind of
thinking and more detailed hazard
identification of the process will be
most effective. We provide support
to a number of our long-term
partners, to manage their ongoing
operational risks, including regulatory
requirements and the evolving
framework of industry accepted good
practice. By applying the appropriate
assessment throughout its lifespan,
RAS provide cradle to grave process
safety support to our clients, from new
entrants to the high hazard industries
through to operators of aging assets
in legacy industries.
bespoke needs. We are pragmatic
in our solutions, recognising the
operational demands of the high
hazard industries and that what may
be practical for a newly designed
plant may not be suitable for an
existing asset and vice versa.
About RAS Limited
RAS Limited is a Chester-based
process
and
technical
safety
consultancy with 30 years of
experience across sectors including
pharmaceuticals, energy, aviation,
and chemicals. With a team of
expert consultants, RAS is a trusted
partner for managing complex risk in
industrial operations and delivering
long-term value. If you would like to
get in touch, please email us here or
go to our website: https://ras/ltd.uk.
Author
Alexandra Hurst, Senior Consultant RAS Limited
We do not believe that there is a one
size fits all approach to process safety
management, each site has a unique
risk profile, and our holistic approach
supports our clients in finding the
best risk management solution for
them. Our specialist advise is always
tailored to each operation and their
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