scholarly journals Aggregated Risk Assessment and Survey for Risk Reduction in Oil Terminals

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 12169
Author(s):  
Robertas Alzbutas ◽  
Mindaugas Vaisnoras ◽  
Inga Saruniene ◽  
Ricardas Krikstolaitis ◽  
Mindaugas Valincius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Hazard Analysis ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Risk Aggregation ◽  
Risk Reduction Measures ◽  
The Impact

One of the goals of any oil terminal is to make a business while avoiding hazardous events and harmful effects for both humans and the environment. This can be achieved by creating a safe working place as well as by performing safe and acceptable activities regarding the impact on surrounding objects, including residential and industrial areas. The aim of the hazard analysis of the oil terminal is to assess the risks related to hazardous events or phenomena and to evaluate whether the assessed risks are acceptable. The hazard analysis and assessment of risk are also used for risk reduction while examining and limiting hazardous scenarios that, for instance, involve the loss-of-containment of flammable or combustible material. In this paper, the authors aim to contribute to risk research by providing a comprehensive methodology of risk assessment for oil terminals with case study results and discussion on features of the methodology, risk aggregation, its applicability for risk reduction, and industrial interests. The performed study considered the “Klaipedos Nafta AB” (an operator of the Klaipeda Oil Terminal, Lithuania) case study regarding hazardous materials that might be released from various tanks, devices, and associated pipelines. The performed quantitative risk assessment has enabled the determination of the probability regarding whether releases would ignite and, for instance, cause explosion. In the case study, the estimate of probability, i.e., the frequency, and the possible consequences of the hazardous events were evaluated, and both mitigation and risk reduction measures were also considered.

scholarly journals Quantitative risk assessment of haemolytic uremic syndrome associated with beef consumption in Argentina

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0242317
Author(s):  
Victoria Brusa ◽  
Magdalena Costa ◽  
Nora L. Padola ◽  
Analía Etcheverría ◽  
Fernando Sampedro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Hazard Analysis ◽  
Ground Beef ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Annual Number ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome ◽  
Critical Control Points ◽  
Uremic Syndrome ◽  
The Impact

We developed a quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) of haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) associated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)-contaminated beef (intact beef cuts, ground beef and commercial hamburgers) in children under 15 years of age from Argentina. The QMRA was used to characterize STEC prevalence and concentration levels in each product through the Argentinean beef supply chain, including cattle primary production, cattle transport, processing and storage in the abattoir, retail and home preparation, and consumption. Median HUS probability from beef cut, ground beef and commercial hamburger consumption was <10−15, 5.4x10-8 and 3.5x10-8, respectively. The expected average annual number of HUS cases was 0, 28 and 4, respectively. Risk of infection and HUS probability were sensitive to the type of abattoir, the application or not of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) for STEC (HACCP-STEC), stx prevalence in carcasses and trimmings, storage conditions from the abattoir to retailers and home, the joint consumption of salads and beef products, and cooking preference. The QMRA results showed that the probability of HUS was higher if beef cuts (1.7x) and ground beef (1.2x) were from carcasses provided by abattoirs not applying HACCP-STEC. Thus, the use of a single sanitary standard that included the application of HACCP-STEC in all Argentinean abattoirs would greatly reduce HUS incidence. The average number of annual HUS cases estimated by the QMRA (n = 32) would explain about 10.0% of cases in children under 15 years per year in Argentina. Since other routes of contamination can be involved, including those not related to food, further research on the beef production chain, other food chains, person-to-person transmission and outbreak studies should be conducted to reduce the impact of HUS on the child population of Argentina.

Multihazard Risk Aggregation Approach for Quantitative Risk Assessment of Upstream Oil and Gas Facilities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Decarli ◽  
Anna Crivellari ◽  
Laura La Rosa ◽  
Enrico Zio ◽  
Francesco Di Maio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
Safety Barriers ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Risk Aggregation ◽  
Plant Level ◽  
Hazard Risk Assessment

Abstract For the design and operation of Oil and Gas (O&G) facilities, a Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) should be performed to quantify the risk of major accidents due to multiple hazards and sources at the plant level, thus allowing the effective identification and allocation of safety barriers. In this work, a novel approach for the multi-hazard and multi-source aggregation of risks is proposed, accounting for the uncertainties typically unexpressed in a conventional QRA (both on the frequency and severity of the accidental scenarios). The multi-hazard risk assessment framework proposed is applied to assess the Location-Specific Individual Risk (LSIR) for a representative Upstream O&G plant (case study), using a model based on multistate Bayesian Networks (BNs) for different functional units, each one undergoing an initiating event of Loss Of Primary Containment (LOPC). Estimates of frequency and severity for each possible accident scenario are aggregated to eventually calculate the overall LSIR. Moreover, LSIR's confidence intervals are provided to describe the uncertainty associated to the estimates, and the frequency and severity contributions to risk are derived for targeted prioritization of the safety barriers in view of the risk reduction.

scholarly journals Environmental quality assessment and modelling in high-risk industrial sites in Latvia

2010 ◽  
Vol 64 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 66-72
Author(s):  
Andris Maurāns ◽  
Jānis Prindulis ◽  
Dainis Mačs
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Environmental Quality Assessment ◽  
Industrial Sites ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Industrial Risk

Environmental quality assessment and modelling in high-risk industrial sites in Latvia The industrial risk situation during the past 20 years in 50 high-risk industrial sites in Latvia was investigated. Overall, the study results show that the level of industrial risk within Latvia's high-risk companies has fallen significantly. Modernisation of equipment and automation of process management were deemed to be the most effective risk reduction measures. A great deal of experience has accumulated in Latvia in the field of quantitative risk assessment. However, the comparability of the results of the work carried out is limited, because different input data and assumptions have been utilised in the calculations by various specialists. Computer modelling of the harmful impact zones resulting from accidents should be consolidated in risk assessments so that as far as possible the harmful effects on human health and the environment arising from accidents can be assessed more comprehensively and diversely. There is a need to develop common methods for probabilistic risk assessment. The study also shows that, in contrast to many European countries, acceptable risk norms are yet to be ratified in Latvia which is hindering the formulation and implementation of targeted risk reduction policy by executive governmental institutions.

Runway veer-off accidents: Quantitative risk assessment and risk reduction measures

2018 ◽  
Vol 104 ◽  
pp. 157-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Moretti ◽  
P. Di Mascio ◽  
S. Nichele ◽  
O. Cokorilo
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Risk Reduction Measures

The impact of acid hydrolysis conditions on carbohydrate determination in lignocellulosic materials: a case study with Eucalyptus globulus bark

Holzforschung ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Jorge Oliveira ◽  
Bruna Santos ◽  
Maria J. Mota ◽  
Susana R. Pereira ◽  
Pedro C. Branco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acid Hydrolysis ◽  
Eucalyptus Globulus ◽  
Industrial Processes ◽  
Lignocellulosic Materials ◽  
Optimal Conditions ◽  
Hydrolysis Conditions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Eucalyptus Bark

Abstract Lignocellulosic biomass represents a suitable feedstock for production of biofuels and bioproducts. Its chemical composition depends on many aspects (e.g. plant source, pre-processing) and it has impact on productivity of industrial bioprocesses. Numerous methodologies can be applied for biomass characterisation, with acid hydrolysis being a particularly relevant step. This study intended to assess the most suitable procedures for acid hydrolysis, taking Eucalyptus globulus bark as a case study. For that purpose, variation of temperature (90–120 °C) was evaluated over time (0–5 h), through monosaccharides and oligosaccharides contents and degradation. For glucose, the optimal conditions were 100 °C for 2.5 h, reaching a content of 48.6 wt.%. For xylose, the highest content (15.2 wt.%) was achieved at 90 °C for 2 h, or 120 °C for 0.5 h. Maximum concentrations of mannose and galactose (1.0 and 1.7 wt.%, respectively) were achieved at 90 and 100 °C (2–3.5 h) or at 120 °C (0.5–1 h). These results revealed that different hydrolysis conditions should be applied for different sugars. Using this approach, total sugar quantification in eucalyptus bark was increased by 4.3%, which would represent a 5% increase in the ethanol volume produced, considering a hypothetical bioethanol production yield. This reflects the importance of feedstock characterization on determination of economic viability of industrial processes.

Design of a risk assessment methodology for the introduction of invasive species from ship ballast waters

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 474-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abderrahmane Bouda ◽  
Nour El Islam Bachari ◽  
Lylia Bahmed ◽  
Ryad Boubenia
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
Ballast Water ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Convention ◽  
Environmental Similarity ◽  
Process Factors ◽  
Shipping Traffic ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – Ballast water of merchant ship is a source of introduction of invasive species around the globe. The purpose of this paper is to present a quantitative risk assessment applied to a model port, the Port of Arzew in Algeria, and based on an analysis of this port’s shipping traffic. Design/methodology/approach – The risk assessment for introduction of invasive species is interpreted in the form of a probabilistic process, with a combination of two probabilities. The first probability is related to the ability of a species to arrive to the destination (recipient port), depending on the quantity of water ballast discharged and the duration of voyage. The second one is based on the species ability to survive in their new environment, which depends on the environmental similarity between donor port and Arzew port. Findings – This assessment’s outcome consists on a classification of scenarios regarding their acceptability. Consequently, it helped to classify donor ports according to a risk scale, from low risk to high-risk donor ports. Research limitations/implications – The phenomenon of invasion of aquatic species is a complex process. Factors such as adaptation and tolerance of species, the attendance or absence of predators, were not taken into account in this study. Practical implications – This study could be used by the maritime administration as a decision-making tool regarding the issue of exemptions under the IMO International Convention on the Management of Ballast Water and Sediments 2004. Originality/value – This is one of the first known studies in Algeria and dealing with ballast water management. The results of this assessment provide useful information to policy makers, in order to develop a national strategy to reduce the impact of shipping pollution on the marine environment.

scholarly journals A Control Based Mathematical Model for the Evaluation of Intervention Lines in COVID-19 Epidemic Spread: The Italian Case Study

Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 890
Author(s):  
Paolo Di Giamberardino ◽  
Rita Caldarella ◽  
Daniela Iacoviello
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Equilibrium Points ◽  
Italian Case ◽  
Control Actions ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Asymptomatic Subjects ◽  
The Impact

This paper addresses the problem of describing the spread of COVID-19 by a mathematical model introducing all the possible control actions as prevention (informative campaign, use of masks, social distancing, vaccination) and medication. The model adopted is similar to SEIQR, with the infected patients split into groups of asymptomatic subjects and isolated ones. This distinction is particularly important in the current pandemic, due to the fundamental the role of asymptomatic subjects in the virus diffusion. The influence of the control actions is considered in analysing the model, from the calculus of the equilibrium points to the determination of the reproduction number. This choice is motivated by the fact that the available organised data have been collected since from the end of February 2020, and almost simultaneously containment measures, increasing in typology and effectiveness, have been applied. The characteristics of COVID-19, not fully understood yet, suggest an asymmetric diffusion among countries and among categories of subjects. Referring to the Italian situation, the containment measures, as applied by the population, have been identified, showing their relation with the government's decisions; this allows the study of possible scenarios, comparing the impact of different possible choices.

scholarly journals Heat-Not-Burn Tobacco Products: The Devil in Disguise or a Considerable Risk Reduction?

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk W Lachenmeier ◽  
Peter Anderson ◽  
Jürgen Rehm
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Tobacco Smoke ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Toxic Effects ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Toxic Compounds ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
The Devil

Background: Heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco products are not burnt but instead are inserted into a tobacco-heating system, which heats the tobacco at temperatures below that required to initiate combustion. This mechanism potentially results in significantly reduced concentrations of heat-generated toxicants in the inhalable aerosol.Method: The margin of exposure (MOE) approach was applied for quantitative risk assessment. The MOE is defined as the ratio between the toxicological threshold and the estimated human intake of the same compound. The higher the MOE, the lower the risk of a compound.Findings: The MOEs were increased by factors of 3 to 415 for the most toxic compounds in tobacco smoke, comparing use of HNB with smoking conventional tobacco products. The combined MOE for all compounds was increased 23-fold, excluding nicotine, or 10-fold including nicotine. Thus, the overall risk for cumulative toxic effects was markedly lower for HNB products.Conclusions: HNB tobacco reduced the risk of exposure to 9 out of the 20 most toxic compounds in tobacco beyond an MOE threshold of 10,000. While our results show that use of HNB products leads to a considerable risk reduction compared to conventional tobacco, the products cannot be considered completely “risk-free” due to risk of exposure to the remaining toxicants with MOE below the threshold.

FDA-iRISK—A Comparative Risk Assessment System for Evaluating and Ranking Food-Hazard Pairs: Case Studies on Microbial Hazards

2013 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 376-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
YUHUAN CHEN ◽  
SHERRI B. DENNIS ◽  
EMMA HARTNETT ◽  
GREG PAOLI ◽  
RÉGIS POUILLOT ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
The Public ◽  
Life Years ◽  
The Impact

Stakeholders in the system of food safety, in particular federal agencies, need evidence-based, transparent, and rigorous approaches to estimate and compare the risk of foodborne illness from microbial and chemical hazards and the public health impact of interventions. FDA-iRISK (referred to here as iRISK), a Web-based quantitative risk assessment system, was developed to meet this need. The modeling tool enables users to assess, compare, and rank the risks posed by multiple food-hazard pairs at all stages of the food supply system, from primary production, through manufacturing and processing, to retail distribution and, ultimately, to the consumer. Using standard data entry templates, built-in mathematical functions, and Monte Carlo simulation techniques, iRISK integrates data and assumptions from seven components: the food, the hazard, the population of consumers, process models describing the introduction and fate of the hazard up to the point of consumption, consumption patterns, dose-response curves, and health effects. Beyond risk ranking, iRISK enables users to estimate and compare the impact of interventions and control measures on public health risk. iRISK provides estimates of the impact of proposed interventions in various ways, including changes in the mean risk of illness and burden of disease metrics, such as losses in disability-adjusted life years. Case studies for Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella were developed to demonstrate the application of iRISK for the estimation of risks and the impact of interventions for microbial hazards. iRISK was made available to the public at http://irisk.foodrisk.org in October 2012.

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