Practical implementation of "risk assessment" through Process Safety Management Systems

A key element for Process Safety Management (PSM) systems is the so-called "Process Hazard Analysis"; as a matter of face, many of the PSM elements includes an "understanding/evaluating risk" step, which needs to be fulfilled properly in order for that element to be robust and "fit for purpose". "Risk assessment" is often seen in abstract terms and left to the so called HSE and risk specialists instead of being perceived and carried out in a more pragmatic way, with the involvement of operational and maintenance personnel, as appropriate. As a result, some companies still fail to examine and evaluate with the necessary depth those risks linked to routinary and non routinary activities. The purpose of this paper is to show, through two real cases, what process safety "risk assessment" actually means in terms of day-to-day operations and how it can be tackled avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy and minimizing paperwork.