Abstract
Hazard Identification, consequence evaluation, risk mitigation analysis, and management of effective safeguards are key to effective risk (safety) management. The high hazard industry, in its quest to achieve safer operations, has developed several risk assessment techniques that prescribe the addition of safeguards, usually safety systems, as the primary means to mitigate risk. This has led to complexity and not necessarily safer plants as evidenced by a trail of major process safety incidents.
High profile incidents with associated asset losses, increased public concern on safety issues and changes to regulatory expectations have driven the industry to consider inherently safer design (ISD) options. Chevron, on its journey to achieve world class operations, has adopted and deployed ISD principles during the execution of major capital projects (MCPs). As early as the alternatives generation stage of a MCP, projects rigorously evaluate options that allow for simpler and robust facility design.
This paper is based on the systematic application of ISD principles in offshore MCPs. The paper share examples of how ISD was applied in early MCP engineering phases and the benefits of the structured ISD application.
