by John B. Cornwell, Jeffrey D. Marx, and Wilbert W. Lee
Abstract
API Recommended Practice 752, Management of Hazards Associated with Location of Process Plant Buildings, describes a methodology that can be used to meet the facility siting requirement in OSHA's PSM rule (29 CFR 1910.119, Section (e)). The methodology is presented in very general terms in API RP 752. This allows it to be applied to a wide range of facilities and buildings, but also requires each company to decide how it should be applied to specific installations.
In keeping with the API RP 752 methodology, a protocol was developed where each process plant building is analyzed individually. The analysis proceeds until the results indicate the risk to occupants is within the acceptable range. The acceptable risk is defined differently in each of the protocol steps. In the first step, the risk is determined by building use, occupancy, etc. In the second step, the acceptable risk is based upon a qualitative estimate of vulnerability. In the last step, quantitative risk analysis techniques are applied to all build- ings that were not excluded from further analysis by either of the first two steps.
This paper reviews the procedures, analysis, and results of a building siting study for a process facility which required a quantitative risk analysis. The protocol is outlined, intermediate qualitative risk results are presented, and application of quantitative risk analysis techniques is discussed.