Catastrophic event

In Delaware, the Regulation for the Management of Extremely Ha2ardous Substances Act, developed in response to the Bhopal disaster and several chemical-release incidents in Delaware, became effective in 1989 (27,28). The regulations Hst 88 toxic substances, 32 flammable substances, and 50 explosive substances. A sufficient quantity is specified for each of these materials, based on potential for a catastrophic event at a distance of 100 m from a potential source of a 1-h release. 

Advancing the state-of-the-art in engineering practices and technical management through research in prevention and mitigation of catastrophic events, and... 

Agency actions or catastrophic events at the toller s facility can threaten the supply chain... 

The accuracy of absolute risk results depends on (1) whether all the significant contributors to risk have been analyzed, (2) the realism of the mathematical models used to predict failure characteristics and accident phenomena, and (3) the statistical uncertainty associated with the various input data. The achievable accuracy of absolute risk results is very dependent on the type of hazard being analyzed. In studies where the dominant risk contributors can be calibrated with ample historical data (e.g., the risk of an engine failure causing an airplane crash), the uncertainty can be reduced to a few percent. However, many authors of published studies and other expert practitioners have recognized that uncertainties can be greater than 1 to 2 orders of magnitude in studies whose major contributors are rare, catastrophic events. 

Threshold Quantity - As defined in 29 CFR 1910.119, the minimum amount of a toxic, reactive, or flammable chemical judged by OSHA as being capable of causing a catastrophic event. The threshold quantity triggers application of the rule s requirements, tonnes - A metric ton, i.e., 2,200 lb. 

This system has proven to provide adequate levels of safety in the Gulf of Mexico and other similar areas where it is possible to abandon the location during a catastrophic event. In the North Sea where harsh environmental conditions exist, a different approach to safety has evolved which is based on developing a Safety Case and calculating an Individual Risk Rate (IRR) to show that the risk to any individual working in the facility is As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). 

The NPRDS is an industry-wide system for monitoring the performance of selected systems and components at U.S. commercial nuclear power plants. Information in NPRDS is derived from a standardized format input report prepared by U.S. nuclear plant licensees. The plants are as)ced to submit failure reports on catastrophic events and degraded failures within the defined reportable scope reporting of incipient events is optional. Command faults are not reportable unless they malce an entire system unavailable. In addition, the plants are as)ced to file component engineering reports on all components within the selected systems and reportable scope. These reports contain detailed design data, operating characteristics, and performance data on the selected systems and components (over 3000 components, from approximately 30 systems, per unit). The selected systems are primarily safety systems. 

Weather data for a number of years should be assembled for each community being studied. Particular attention should be given to such natural disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods, which often can be predicted from meteorological data. In certain locations these catastrophic events must be assumed to be probable and this increases construction costs. E.xtremely cold weather often hampers process plant operation and requires special construction features to protect equipment from freezing. Predominantly warm weather permits cheaper construction but may also reduce the efllcicncy of the labor force. 

To meet this requirement, a company must define an incident in specific terms for their facility. This includes an operational definition that indicates the number of pounds of the substance used in a particular process that would qualify as a catastrophic event . Defining an incident in site-specific terms also includes defining the terms "could reasonably have resulted in . Appendix C of the regulation provides guidelines for clarifying this point. It includes definitions of "near misses in which a catastrophic failure occurred, but a chemical release did not occur. Clear guidelines should be established that provide the employee with a quantifiable means of defining those incidents that require a violation report. 

Over the last 60 years criteria and methods based upon resuits of catastrophic events have been used for the design of expl facilities. The criteria and methods did not include a detailed or reliable quantitative basis for assessing the degree of protection afforded by the protective facility. Recentiy, extensive research and development programs have been undertaken to establish procedures which permit a more sound and scientifically based approach to current and future design requirements (Refs 1 to 9)... 

Viruses are discussed more fully elsewhere (Chapter 3). However, there are certain groups of viruses, called bacteriophages (phages), which can attack bacteria. This attack involves the injechon of viral DNA into baeterial eells which then proceed to make new virus particles and destroy eells. Some viruses, known as temperate viruses, do not cause this catastrophic event when they infect their host, but can pass genetic material from one cell to another. 

Toxic and reactive highly hazardous chemical which presents a potential for a catastrophic event at or above the threshold quantity 1,500 pounds OSHA 1998a (29 CFR 1910.119 Appendix A)... 

In the previous decades, severe accidents have happened involving hydrogen utilized in industrial and other applications. The determinant causes for a catastrophic event may be classified into the following [13] ... 

The presentation can be subtle and depends on the setting. Outpatients often are not in acute distress hospitalized patients may develop ARF after a catastrophic event. 

Monitoring changes in UOP can help diagnose the cause of ARF. Acute anuria (less than 50 mL urine/day) is secondary to complete urinary obstruction or a catastrophic event (e.g., shock). Oliguria (400 to 500 mL urine/day) suggests prerenal azotemia. Nonoliguric renal failure (more... 

Community groups near process plants will play an increasingly important role in assuring that catastrophic events do not occur. 

Likelihood of adversary success (LAS) The potential for causing a catastrophic event by defeating the countermeasures. LAS is an estimate that the security countermeasures will thwart or withstand the attempted attack, or if the attack will circumvent or exceed the existing security measures. This measure represents a surrogate for the conditional probability of success of the event. 

Petroleum and chemical related hazards can arise from the presence of combustible or toxic liquids, gases, mist, or dust in the work environment. Common physical hazards include ambient heat, bums, noise, vibration, sudden pressure changes, radiation, and electric shock. Various external sources, such as chemical, biological, or physical hazards, can cause work related injuries or fatalities. Although all of these hazards are of concern this book primarily concentrates on fire and explosions hazards that can cause catastrophic events. 

Usually the petroleum industry level of risk for a particular facility is may be based one of two parameters. The average risk to the individual (FAR or PLL) or the risk of a catastrophic event at the facility (QRA). The risk criteria can be specified in two manners. Risk per year (annual) or facility risk (lifetime). For purposes of Consistency and familiarity all quantifiable risks are normally specified as annually. Where value analysis is applied for cost comparisons of protection options, a lifetime risk figure is normally used. 

The scenario which emerges from these findings is the following two-step scenario. The first event is the supernova explosion which forms a compact stellar remnant, i.e. a neutron star (NS) the second catastrophic event is associated with the NS and it is the energy source for the observed GRB. These... 

Much of process safety deals with the prevention of catastrophic events, such as fires and explosions. This is accomplished by containing hazardous materials within the process system. The Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) has developed many Guidelines that assist companies in this effort (see Section 1.3 and References). 

In 2006, however, focus shifted to another rare but potentially catastrophic event known as late stent thrombosis, which, in contrast to subacute thrombosis, occurs months to years after stent placement. It usually occurs before endothelialization is complete. For bare metal stents, this takes a few weeks. However, in drug eluting stents, this process of endotheliazation is delayed [68]. This complication... 

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