TABLE OF CONTENTS "Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety".
William Shakespeare, Henry IV Part I, Act ii, Scene 3.
In the preceding chapters, we have referred to the importance of a Safety Management System (SMS) to complement the process hazard analysis studies in order to maintain the integrity of safety critical equipment in a hazardous facility. This chapter is devoted to a detailed description of what constitutes the SMS, how it can be developed and implemented.
We have seen how systematic hazard identification and risk assessment methods can be applied to new and existing process facilities. Much of the work is mainly carried out by a specialist multi-disciplinary team.
The following questions arise:
How do we control the identified hazards in day to day operation and maintenance of the facility?
How do we ensure the integrity of the hazard control measures that we have so carefully selected, designed and installed?
What tools do we need for maintaining the risk at ALARP level, day after day?
The answer to all of the above is that we need a system consisting of policies, procedures and practices for managing process safety, in the same way we manage the business. The set of procedures and practices ensure that the barriers to prevent or mitigate the impact of major accidents are in place, and are effective.
The set of procedures and practices designed to prevent major accident events in a process facility, and manage incidents go by...
