Table of Contents

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

List of Tables xix

List of Figures xxi

Acronyms and Abbreviations xxv

Glossary xxix

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 What is Risk? 1

1.2 Scope of these Guidelines 7

1.3 Objectives of these Guidelines 8

2 FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF RISK ASSESSMENT AND RISK CRITERIA 11

2.1 A Brief History of Risk Assessment 11

2.2 The Qualitative Approach to Risk Assessment 15

2.3 Technical Aspects of QRA 21

2.4 Quantitative Risk Criteria 31

2.5 The Role of QRA and Risk Criteria 37

2.6 Risk Tolerance as a Function of Societal Values 39

2.7 Definition and Applications of the "As Low as Reasonably Practicable" (ALARP) Principle 44

2.8 Uncertainty and Its Impact on Risk Decision Making 46

3 LEARNING FROM REGULATORY PRECEDENTS 49

3.1 Why Study Risk Criteria? 49

3.2 The Evolution of Risk Criteria in the UK 51

3.3 The Evolution of Risk Criteria in the Netherlands 60

3.4 Comparison of Risk Criteria in the UK and the Netherlands 67

3.5 Learning from and Applying the Precedents 73

4 CONSIDERATIONS IN DEVELOPING RISK CRITERIA 79

4.1 Determine the Need to Establish Risk Criteria 80

4.2 Determine the Risks to be Addressed 82

4.3 Determine/Classify the Population to be Addressed 82

4.4 Determine Which Risk Criteria to Develop 84

4.5 Determine Whether Risk Criteria Will Distinguish Between New and Existing Facilities 85

4.6 Determine Philosophy for Continuing Risk Reduction 87

4.7 Develop Individual Risk Criteria 87

4.8 Develop Societal Risk Criteria 88

4.9 Qualifymalidate the Risk Criteria 88

4.10 Decide on a Philosophy for Apportioning and Scaling the Risk Criteria 91

4.11 Periodically Revalidate the Risk Criteria 98

4.12 Matching the Risk Criteria with the System and with the Risk Estimation Methodology 100

4.13 Risk Criteria in the Multinational Context 102

4.14 Consideration of Short DuratiodHigher Risk Activities 103

5 FUTURE TOPICS 105

5.1 Fostering the Application of Risk-Based Decision Making 105

5.2 Enhancing Risk Assessment Technology 106

Appendix A: Understanding and Using F-N Diagrams 109

Appendix B: Survey of Worldwide Risk Criteria Applications 119

Appendix C: Development of Company Risk Criteria 171

REFERENCES 191

INDEX 207

About the Author

Since 1985, the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) has been the world leader in developing and disseminating information on process safety management and technology. CCPS, an industry technology alliance of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), has published over 80 books in its process safety guidelines and process safety concepts series, and over 100 training modules through its Safety in Chemical Engineering Education (SACHE) series.