Safety, cost containment

Some of the challenges facing the industrial laboratory are limited resources, cost containment, productivity, timeliness of test results, chemical safety, spent chemicals disposal, technician capability, analytical capability, disappearing skills, and reliability of test results. The present R D climate in the chemical industry is one of downsizing at corporate level (lean and mean), erosion of boundaries between basic and applied science, and polymer science and analytical chemistry as Cinderella subjects. Difficult chemical analyses are often run by insufficiently skilled workers (a managerial issue). 

The data given in Table 4.20 also contains extra costs such as containment and waste-disposal-related costs and worker health and safety costs. The numbers show that these types of costs are equal to or exceed the costs of surface preparation, coating material, and coating application. 

To base safety on containment, the plant must be of adequate strength to withstand full explosion pressure and to contain the products of an explosion. For a typical vapour/air system, pressure ratios of up to 10 can develop, i.e. an explosion starting at atmospheric pressure can produce a pressure of up to 10 bar. If using oxygen, this can rise to 15. This requirement for strong plant results in significantly increased design pressure requirements with associated elevated costs. 

The most important strategy for capital cost containment is the safety approach. By designing STAR-H2 for passive safety, two crucial cost saving benefits might be accrued. First, the balance of plant could be built to non-safety grade standards using standard components which are factors of up to 3 or 5 times less expensive than nuclear safety grade. 

Petroleum ether ("pet ether") is a mixture of hydrocarbons formulated to have a boiling point between 35 and 80°C. Pet ether contains no ethers. It is also called naptha, benzin, or petroleum benzin. Since the mixture varies, constants depend on the batch and the manufacturer. The solvent group is a classification based on similarity of behavior and solvent properties. It is useful for making generalizations and for selecting alternative solvents when safety, cost, or other constraints apply. 

Enormous reduction in complexity and cost in not having to install a safety grade containment spray system. 

It was envisioned that this book would be a simple yet practical guide for embracing occupational safety and health as a right and just component of any business that has a workforce. This book is also for those businesses that are concerned about the bottom line and cost containment in the competitive business environment of today. 

The lack of system safety costs millions of dollars in damages and loss of lives every year due to preventable accidents and mishaps. It is my greatest hope that the readers of this book can use the material contained herein to better understand and apply the system safety concept and thereby develop safe products and systems. 

Rietveld, A.H. Haaijer-Ruskamp, F.M. (2002) Policy options for cost containment of pharmaceuticals. International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine, 15, 29-54. 

The choice of contract type will depend upon the type of work, and the level of control which the oil company wishes to maintain. There is a current trend for the oil company to consider the contractor as a partner in the project (partnering arrangements), and to work closely with the contractor at all stages of the project development. The objective of this closer involvement of the contractor is to provide a common incentive for the contractor and the oil company to improve quality, efficiency, safety, and most importantly to reduce cost. This type of contract usually contains a significant element of sharing risk and reward of the project. 

Containers. The USPXXIII—NFXVIII Hsts container requinements such as weH-closed, tight, or light-resistant. Most containers ate light-resistant (amber) glass or plastic. The latter is break-resistant and lightweight, which reduces shipping costs and increases safety. 

The substitution of asbestos fibers by other types of fibers or minerals must, ia principle, comply with three types of criteria (36) the technical feasibihty of the substitution the gain ia the safety of the asbestos-free product relative to the asbestos-containing product and the availabiHty of the substitute audits comparative cost. 

Deactivation and D D actions can range from stabilization of multiple hazards at a single site or facilities containing chemical or radioactive contamination, or both, to routine asbestos and lead abatement in a nonindustrial structure. Strategies include programs that meet compliance objectives, protect workers, and make certain that productivity and cost-effectiveness are maintained. The content and extent of health and safety-related programs should be proportionate to the types and degrees of hazards and risks associated with specific operations. 

A failure modes and effects analysis is a systematic analytical technique for identifying potential failures in a design or a process, assessing the probability of occurrence and likely effect, and determining the measures needed to eliminate, contain, or control the effects. Action taken on the basis of an FMEA will improve safety, performance, reliability, maintainability and reduce costs. The outputs are essential to balanced and effective quality plans for both development and production as it will help focus the controls upon those products, processes, and characteristics that are at risk. It is not the intention here to give a full appreciation of the FMEA technique and readers are advised to consult other texts. 

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