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- Title
The importance of recognising and managing ageing plant.
- Authors
Mansfield, David; Atkinson, Terry; Worsley, John
- Abstract
Onshore process and chemical plant is ageing.This can lead to leaks and failures which impact on safety, health and the environment as well as business performance. To help inform and prioritise their approach to the topic of ageing plant, the Health and Safety Executive contracted ESR Technology to conduct an extensive analysis and review of various UK and European-wide accident and incident data to assess the extent to which ageing mechanisms are contributing to accidents and losses and to provide a technical basis to identify, target and prioritise the key issues associated with ageing plant. This paper presents the findings of these analyses and reviews to show the significant contribution of ageing mechanisms to accidents and losses and the lessons that can be drawn from this data. It shows how these findings were used to develop a broader approach to, and definition of ageing plant which is now being taken forward by the COMAH Competent Authority1 as a strategic priority for the targeting of interventions at COMAH sites. To quote a key conclusion from the study: "An analysis ... has shown that across Europe, between 1980 and 2006, it is estimated that there have been 96 incidents reported in the MARS database relating to major accident potential loss of containment which are estimated to be due to ageing plant. This represents 28% of all reported 'major accident' loss of containment events in the MARS database, approximately 50% of all technical integrity and EC&I related incidents, and equates to an overall loss of 11 lives,183 injuries and over 170 Million €of economic loss." Ageing is not about how old your plant and equipment is; it is about its condition, the service it is in and how that is changing over time. The issue of ageing industrial assets is of increasing importance to regulators and the industry as a whole, as its successful management is critical to the overall safety performance of process plants. Although the study was commissioned by the UK Health and Safety Executive, it has implications not just for the UK, but for Europe as a whole. It is hoped that this paper will promote the need to recognise and manage ageing plant and help industry better understand the basis of HSE's approach to this topic and HSE's concerns regarding this issue.
- Subjects
CHEMICAL plant maintenance &; repair; PLANT maintenance; PLANT engineering; FACTORIES; INDUSTRIAL building maintenance &; repair
- Publication
Loss Prevention Bulletin, 2013, Issue 234, p4
- ISSN
0260-9576
- Publication type
Article