Developing a computer aided method for hazard analysis in the process industry for Sri Lanka

Abstract

This paper presents a tool that can be used to determine the hazards involved in a steam distillation unit used in extracting cinnamon oil from cinnamon bark. It is a computer aided tool called DistHaz . In this tool any deviation from the normal operational condition of the unit is considered as an incident. These incidents as deviations are fed in to'DistHaz' to obtain an analysis of the hazards involved with that deviation. Such analysis includes causes of the deviation and the resulting consequences from it. During operation of the unit this tool is able to provide information on the actions that the operator of the unit should take when a deviation occurs. Each such deviation actually occurred is recorded in a database within the tool. This data is then used in determining the time in which the maintenance of the unit should be earned out. The maintenance schedule is useful in alerting the operators to carryout repairs and services timely for safer operation of the unit. Many methods developed today for hazard analysis need large inputs of time and expert manpower. In a developing economy with the development of the process industry in size and complexity the frequency as well as the severity of accidents occurring can be expected to increase. The development of this hazard analysis tool is an effort towards establishing a prevention measure of such accidents.