Risks associated with identified hazards can be reduced to a reasonable level through the application of good design principles that are focused on integrating safety into the overall considerations of the design process. This is achieved by reducing the probability of occurrence of risk events, conditions and sources, and minimizing their consequences.
Risks are inherent to any human activity and cannot be totally eliminated. The risk management process is based on the systematic identification of hazards and their associated causes in order to define the extent and likelihood of the potential loss.
This is used to prioritize and assign appropriate actions or treatments appropriate to the level of risk. These treatments are then used to reduce the risks to the project. The guiding principle shall be that the project shall be able to demonstrate that risks have been reduced to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).
ALARP principles and Cost Benefit Analyses are used to judge the adequacy at each stage of the risk management process and to ensure that the design meets the criterion of maximum protection of the personnel, environment and assets.
The first step should be the elimination of potential hazards by improving the inherent safety of the design concept, subsequently relying on engineering controls, and finally on administrative controls where fundamental design mitigation is not technically or economically feasible.
Hazards in plant facilities can sometimes be exacerbated by the general requirements for the location of the facilities to be remote of inhabited areas. This can on occasions affect support activities due to the location of support services and the nature of the products being handled. These hazards impact on the total life cycle design requirements of a plant; including its construction, installation, its operation and maintenance , and ultimately the de-commissioning and disposal of the plant.
A preliminary risk assessment should be done to determine the level of importance for each potential hazard and associated risks. This should involve key project personnel, and where possible experienced plant operational and maintenance personnel.