Graphical Technique for Root-Cause Analysis in Inherent Safety Assessment

Abstract

The aim of this research is to develop an inherent safety assessment technique for research and development stage of chemical process design through the application of logistic function. There are many current inherent safety assessment methods that are index-based. Alternative process synthesis routes to the desired product are ranked based on the total index value, which is calculated by assigning scoring numbers to process safety hazard parameters. Such approach is not sufficed to fully understand the hazards posed by each process routes as the exact cause of the hazards is unknown to the users. The technique proposed in this research will show not only the total scores and the ranks of the evaluated processes but also provide users with more detailed data on the chemical and operational properties that posed the maximum hazards to the process called the root-cause analysis. Root-cause analysis is done through graphical representation constructed from the logistic functions.