Risk analysis of a typical chemical industry using ORA procedure

This paper presents a risk assessment study of a typical chemical process (sulfolane manufacturing) industry using optimum risk analysis (ORA) methodology recently proposed by these authors (Khan, F. I., & Abbasi, S. A. (1995). Risk analysis; a systematic method for harzard identification and assessment. Journal of Industrial Pollution Control, 9(2), 66; Khan, F. I., & Abbasi, S. A. (1998a). Techniques for risk analysis of chemical process industries. Journal of Loss Prevention in Process Industries, 11(2), 91.) The paper also describes briefly the different steps of ORA methodology and the available techniques and tools to conduct each step of the ORA. The study suggests that the reactor and the storage units of the industry are highly vulnerable to accidents and need elaborate safety arrangements. The damage potential of these units is such that its impact would permeate far beyond the plant boundaries and would cause damage to nearby areas. A few recommendations have been made to reduce the existing risk potential. However, the industry still needs to have high level safety arrangements and emergency procedures in position to counter any unwanted situation in the industry. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.