Chemical Processing - September 2007 - (Page 40)

Material Master TM • Complete line of Bulk Bag Discharging Systems, Bag Handling Systems, and Bulk Bag Filling Systems • Safe, dust-tight designs • Designed for your specific application • Improve material flow and worker safety • Complete engineering and support services • Patent-pending technology inventory of the substance. However, the smaller tank may require a switch from getting the material via railroad tank cars (typically about 300,000-lb. shipments) to trucks (typically about 30,000 lb.). There will be 10 times as many shipments, and they will go by road rather than by rail — depending upon the particular location, road shipment may be inherently more hazardous. So, while the site risk is reduced, the overall risk to society actually may be increased. Think differently The chemical industry will benefit if designers and operators consider ISD options throughout a process’s life cycle, from initial conception through R&D, plant design (including detailed design of equipment and operating procedures), construction, operation, modification and eventual shutdown. ISD isn’t a specific program or design technique but a philosophy and mindset. It challenges you to rethink how to approach hazards — not just to accept them and concentrate on control, but to seek to eliminate or minimize them. It can lead to choices that better reflect differences in particular situations and environments, while taking into account other factors such as economics, resource allocation, and the feasibility, reliability and effectiveness of conventional process riskmanagement features. A designer should ask the following questions, in this order, once a hazard has been identified: 1. Can the hazard be eliminated? 2. If not, can the magnitude of the hazard be reduced? 3. Do the process options identified from the first two questions increase the scale of any other hazards or create new ones? If so, consider all hazards in selecting the best alternative. 4. What passive, active and procedural protective systems are required to manage the hazards that remain? Too often we skip directly to the fourth question and focus on hazard management without striving to eliminate or reduce hazards. We accept the hazards, believing they are unavoidable. This may be true but we can never eliminate or reduce hazards if we never challenge ourselves to do so. CP Dennis C. Hendershot is principal process safety specialist for Chilworth Technology, Plainsboro, N.J. E-mail him at DHendershot@chilworth.com. Call us: 800.836.7068 Product showroom: www.materialtransfer.com RefeRence 1. “Inherently Safer Chemical Processes: A Life Cycle Approach,” D. A. Crowl, ed., Center for Chemical Process Safety, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, New York (1996). www.chemicalprocessing.com http://www.materialtransfer.com http://www.materialtransfer.com http://www.westernstates.com http://www.chemicalprocessing.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Chemical Processing - September 2007

Contents From the Editor Field Notes In Process Energy Saver Compliance Advisor Succeed at Simulation Rethink Your Approach to Process Safety Avoid Blending Blunders Get the Right Cartridge or Bag Filter Wireless Proponents Take HART Membrane Boasts Material Benefits Process Puzzler Plant InSites Chem Show Product Preview ISA Product Preview Equipment & Services Product Spotlight/Classifieds Ad Index End Point

Chemical Processing - September 2007

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