Digest
Process interruptions: a threat to process safety — Process Safety Beacon, July 2020
Process interruptions: a threat to process safety — Process Safety Beacon, July 2020
- CCPS
- Digest
- Process Safety Beacon July 2020
- Management of ChangeProcess Safety
- ExplosionFireHazardous substancesProcess safety
- Valve
- Alarm managementEnergy and process isolationOperating and work procedures
- Downstream and process industries
Summary
This bulletin examines an explosion involving mononitrotoluene left in a shut-down vacuum distillation column. Leaking steam valves heated the material, leading to decomposition and a runaway reaction. It highlights shutdown isolation, detailed procedures, continued monitoring of process parameters and alarms, and repair or replacement of leaking block valves.
Classifications: Explosion; explosive atmospheres.
Classifications: Fire; fire safety.
Classifications: Hazardous substances; hazardous chemicals; chemical exposure.
Classifications: Process safety; major accident hazards.
Classifications: Valve; valves.
Classifications: Alarm management.
Classifications: Energy and process isolation; isolation; energy isolation.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Downstream and process industries; refining; petrochemicals.
Summary
One-page Beacon on how process interruptions and abnormal operations create process safety risk.
Process Safety Beacon July 2020. Themes: management of change, process safety.