Major Accident Hazard Identification
So what is a Major Accident Hazard? How do you identify them?
Conducting a Major Accident Hazard Identification session is really the starting point for going down the road to understanding, measuring and managing your risks in the attempt to reduce them to ALARP.
The common industry terms is MAH, however many Academics out there will tell you that the word "Accident" is incorrect, as “Accidents” are, by definition, unavoidable and thus we can not identify or control them. Academia types may wish to use the term Major Incidences. In any event, the words are interchangeable in the Oil and Gas industry and the process is the same.
The most common definition comes from the UK Legislation where a Major Accident Hazard is defined by:
You may wonder why on these scenarios are considered. Shouldn’t even one fatality be considered a Major Accident? The answer is, of course to the individual, there most certainly is a risk that should be considered unacceptable. However, this is one of the key defining issues that separates an “HSE or HSEQ” Professional versus a “Technical Safety or Risk Engineer”, the difference between a Safe Operations programme and a Risk Management programme. In the overall ALARP process would plan out our to reduce the risks associated with MAHs by defining Safety Critical Systems and the design of those systems to achieve ALARP. If single fatalities were included as a Major Accident then ultimately all equipment would be considered Safety Critical (ladders, handrails, electrical grounding etc.) thus unsustainable in having maintenance teams keep up with Critical maintenance tasks.
ALARP Engineering can facilitate a brainstorming exercise for Major Accident Hazards Identification with your key project personnel. Our experience and knowledge on how this crucial first step will play out into your design will allow us to keep the meeting on point.
An MAH Identification session should typically take place early on in a project, during Conceptual or Design Basis Phase.
Major Accident Hazard Identification meeting facilitation is also the opportunity to define the scenarios that should be reviewed as part of a Risk Analysis or QRA, as well as defining what Safety Critical Systems will need to be designed (Toxic Detection, HVAC, Firewater etc.).
Conducting a Major Accident Hazard Identification session is really the starting point for going down the road to understanding, measuring and managing your risks in the attempt to reduce them to ALARP.
The common industry terms is MAH, however many Academics out there will tell you that the word "Accident" is incorrect, as “Accidents” are, by definition, unavoidable and thus we can not identify or control them. Academia types may wish to use the term Major Incidences. In any event, the words are interchangeable in the Oil and Gas industry and the process is the same.
The most common definition comes from the UK Legislation where a Major Accident Hazard is defined by:
- a fire, explosion or the release of a dangerous substance involving death or serious personal injury to one or more persons on the installation or engaged in an activity on or in connection with it;
- any event involving major damage to the structure of the installation or plant affixed or the loss of stability of the installation or major environmental impact(s);
- any other event arising from work activity involving death or serious personal injury to five or more persons on the installation or engaged in an activity in connection with it.
You may wonder why on these scenarios are considered. Shouldn’t even one fatality be considered a Major Accident? The answer is, of course to the individual, there most certainly is a risk that should be considered unacceptable. However, this is one of the key defining issues that separates an “HSE or HSEQ” Professional versus a “Technical Safety or Risk Engineer”, the difference between a Safe Operations programme and a Risk Management programme. In the overall ALARP process would plan out our to reduce the risks associated with MAHs by defining Safety Critical Systems and the design of those systems to achieve ALARP. If single fatalities were included as a Major Accident then ultimately all equipment would be considered Safety Critical (ladders, handrails, electrical grounding etc.) thus unsustainable in having maintenance teams keep up with Critical maintenance tasks.
ALARP Engineering can facilitate a brainstorming exercise for Major Accident Hazards Identification with your key project personnel. Our experience and knowledge on how this crucial first step will play out into your design will allow us to keep the meeting on point.
An MAH Identification session should typically take place early on in a project, during Conceptual or Design Basis Phase.
Major Accident Hazard Identification meeting facilitation is also the opportunity to define the scenarios that should be reviewed as part of a Risk Analysis or QRA, as well as defining what Safety Critical Systems will need to be designed (Toxic Detection, HVAC, Firewater etc.).