Introduction
Hazardous plants, such as chemical processing plants, oil refineries, and power plants, involve the handling of dangerous materials and processes. Managing safety risk is crucial to ensure the safety and productivity of people working on these plants. In this article, we will discuss how IntelliPERMIT can help improve safety risk analysis and control of work in hazardous plants.
IntelliPERMIT can help to identify hazards, streamline the risk management process, monitor real-time conditions and improve the control of work and contractor activities.
IntelliPERMIT will help ensure that workers have the necessary training, PPE, and procedures to carry out their work safely. IntelliPERMIT will also help to improve communication between different stakeholders, helping ensure there is clear accountability and compliance to procedures.
Effective Hazard Identification
Hazard identification is a crucial step in managing safety risks in hazardous plants.
Best practices for hazard identification include involving workers in the risk assessment process, using checklists to ensure that all potential hazards are considered, and reviewing incident reports and near-misses to identify potential hazards.
IntelliPERMIT can help to automate the process of hazard identification and analysis, reducing the time and effort required to identify and assess potential risk.
IntelliPERMIT’s permit to work system incorporates a built in feature called “Predictive Hazard Identification” that can automatically identify hazards based on the plant area, activity, equipment or work description.
In addition, IntelliPERMIT includes a Job Risk Assessment system that helps identify potential hazards and inherent risk associated with a job or task; and to implement effective controls to reduce or eliminate the residual safety risk to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).
The IntelliPERMIT Job Risk Assessment system supports a typical safety risk assessment matrix. This is a visual tool that helps individuals or teams to prioritize risks based on the likelihood of an event occurring and the severity of its potential consequences. The matrix is typically divided into different categories or levels, with the likelihood and severity of risks evaluated based on a numerical scale. The resulting risk scores can then be used to identify the correct control measures to address all significant safety risks.
Consistency and Accuracy in Risk Assessment and Reporting
IntelliPERMIT can help standardise the risk assessment methodology and ensure that all stakeholders are using the same criteria and data sources, improving consistency and accuracy.
IntelliPERMIT can also automate the reporting process, allowing stakeholders to quickly generate reports on potential hazards and risk mitigation strategies. Through regular audits of the permit to work system these strategies can be used to enhance safety behaviours through a process of continuous improvement.
Streamlined Control of Work Processes
Once the work order has been issued, IntelliPERMIT can co-ordinate and manage the execution of routine and non-routine maintenance activities in the plant.
The two main processes that IntelliPERMIT uses to control work are the job risk assessment (JRA) and the permit to work (PTW) which work seamlessly together to ensure workers are kept safe.
Real-Time Monitoring and Analysis of Safety Risks
IntelliPERMIT can collect and analyse data on equipment performance, process conditions, and other factors that can affect safety risks, allowing stakeholders to quickly identify new potential hazards.
During the creation of the permit to work this data can trigger business rules that alert the permit applicant to potential violations or procedure or unsafe process conditions.
IntelliPERMIT can also trigger alerts and notifications when risk factors exceed predetermined thresholds, allowing stakeholders to respond quickly to potential emergencies.
Any elevated risk can be communicated in real-time to workers through a mobile application, or to control room operators and permit controllers through automated displays in the control room or permit office. Depending on the organisational procedures, work can then be temporarily or permanently suspended until the risk is fully assessed.
Improved Coordination of Contractors
In hazardous plants, contractors are often brought in to perform maintenance or construction work. This can introduce additional safety risks if not managed properly.
IntelliPERMIT’s control of work software can help improve the management of contractors by providing a centralised platform for managing all work activities, ensuring that contractors are fully aware of the job specific hazards, properly trained and equipped, and monitoring their activities in real-time.
The software can also facilitate the use of toolbox talks, which can be used to inform workers about the risks identified from the job hazard analyses to reinforce safe work practices.
Conclusion
IntelliPERMIT offers several advantages for improving safety risk analysis and control of work in hazardous plants. By leveraging the power of IntelliPERMIT, hazardous plant operators can enhance safety, productivity, and profitability, while reducing the likelihood and severity of accidents and incidents. With IntelliPERMIT, hazardous plants can be managed safely and efficiently, minimising risk and maximising productivity through the control of work and safety risk analysis.
