Enhancing Process Safety Management in the Wellestablished Steel Industry: A Holistic Approach to Thorough Hazard Identification, Rigorous Risk Assessment, and Safety Improvement

Abstract

In order for any industry to achieve success, it is crucial to identify hazards, assess associated risks, and mitigate them to an acceptable level. Due to the inherent nature of operations and the complexity of systems, procedures, and methods, industrial activities inherently involve certain levels of hazards. Hazard analysis plays a pivotal role in identifying potential undesirable events that can lead to hazards, analyzing the mechanisms by which these events occur, and estimating the extent, magnitude, and likelihood of harmful effects. Within the industry, the application of various risk evaluation techniques is widely acknowledged to significantly enhance the safety of complex operations and equipment. The hazard analysis process, integral to process safety management (PSM) systems, entails identifying undesirable events that lead to hazards, analyzing the associated mechanisms, and estimating the extent and likelihood of harmful effects. High-risk activities are marked in red, indicating their unacceptability and the need for risk reduction. Risks marked in yellow are considered tolerable but necessitate efforts to mitigate them without incurring disproportionate costs. Risks marked in green indicate such low levels of risk that further action to reduce their magnitude is unnecessary. The overall analysis is subsequently verified and utilized to implement the necessary modifications.