Indian political parties gloss over environment

The country is the world's third-worst emitter of carbon dioxide _ behind China and the United States _ even though a third of Indians still lack electricity.

Safety rating for chemical plants: A step in right direction

B Karthikeyan

Tata Chemicals' R Mukundan

Yogesh Kothari, President, ICC, and CMD, Alkyl Amines Chemicals

Heubach Colour's Ravi Kapoor

• Safe and responsible handling of chemicals through the entire life cycle builds public trust and confidence in chemicals and the companies practicing RC
• Reduces pollution & water consumption, improves energy efficiency and usage of renewable energy
• Helps build informed, protected society and sustainable future for everyone
• Improves business management efficiency by better targeting of worthwhile market opportunities
• Reduces the likelihood of unnecessary capital and other expenditure when it becomes clear that risks outweigh further investment in chemical development
• May reduce insurance premiums due to reduction of risks. The developed countries have already realised the benefit. ICC is in discussion with insurance companies. Initial response is positive.

Transformer explodes in Turkish coal mine; 201 die in fire

Hundreds stranded as death toll soars

More than 200 workers were still stranded late Tuesday, according to preliminary findings by Turkey's Manisa Natural Disaster and Emergency Coordination Directorate.

Rescue workers and relatives gather at a coal mine in the western Turkish province of Manisa on Tuesday, May 13. A fire caused by a transformer explosion in the coal mine left more than 160 people dead and trapped hundreds more, officials said. 

Photos: Coal mine explosion in Turkey

Families hold vigil outside Turkish mine

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking in Ankara, said the country is working "to rescue our stranded brothers."

Article 370

Article 370 of the Constitution is making a mockery of secularism, nationalism and the structure of unity. This temporary constitutional provision has, in fact, been providing encouragement for the establishment of Muslim nation.
 
Article 370 of the Constitution, which has grouped Jammu and Kashmir as a special and different state, ridicules this declaration that Kashmir is an inseparable part of India. This special status delinks the state from rest of the country. It won't be an exaggeration if it is called constitutionally recognised separatism. On the basis of this "special status" people of Kashmir, Pakistani rulers and diplomats and intellectuals in the world raise of volley of questions in front of the Government of India. Is accession of Jammu and Kashmir complete like other states ? If the accession is complete, why then the special appeasement ? Is it so because there is Muslim majority ? Had there been Hindu majority in the Kashmir valley, would there have been this clause of the Constitution ? Does not this clause give an opportunity to the world to doubt our honesty ?Everybody knows that Maharaja Hari Singh signed the accession papers on October 26, 1947 under which the state acceded to India. The accession of Jammu and Kashmir with India was carried out on the same pattern other states acceded to it. But as a result of the misfortune of the country, Nehru pressurised the Maharaja for handing over power to Sheikh Abdullah. The Maharaja gulped the bitter draught and exhibited his patriotism. The misfortune does not end here. On the request of Sheikh Abdullah it was decided that the State Assembly will take the final decision on the accession and it was done to appease the Muslim society in Kashmir. From here the State was given the special status. The question arose as to what should be done till the Assembly took the final decision ? For this period Article 370 was incorporated in the Constitution as a temporary measure. But even when the State Assembly ratified the state's accession to India, the Article was not scrapped. There can be no other bigger instance of treachery than the interest of the vote bank and the politics of appeasement.
With the blindfold of political interest we lent permanancy to the temporary character of the Article making our position not only ridiculous before the world but also provided a golden opportunity and solid base for separatist-oriented terrorism to grow in Kashmir. The most shameful part is that we are not ready evennow to throw off the soiled blindfold. Instead we are keen to keep this blindfold as a permanent feature.
Our Government has deliberately concealed the dangers of Article 370 because it will expose the hollowness of its secularism. The exposure of its dangerous consequences will cut asunder the web of pro-Muslim policies.
It is because of this Article that the Government of India cannot enforce any law connected with Jammu and Kashmir without the approval or concurrence of the State Government. Only defence, external affairs and communications fall in the central list. Against this the Parliament has the powers to frame laws for rest of the states in the country. But Article 370 of the Constitution restricts the hands of the Union Government and the Parliament in doing this in case of Jammu and Kashmir. Its dangerous consequences have been witnessed in recent years when the law prohibiting misuse of religious places could not be extended to Jammu and Kashmir with the result the state does not come within the ambit of secularism. And even after the independence the ignoble thing happened in Kashmir where hundreds of temples were destroyed and where people belonging to a particular community were victimised and subjected to cruelties. On the question of Ayodhya nnd the consequent Babri Masjid episode the Union Home Ministry had been issuing threats to the Uttar Pradesh Government and ultimately the Government was dismissed under Article 356 of the canstitution but this article cannot be implemented directly in Jammu and Kashmir.
The President of India cannot dare to issue any order under Article 356 to Jammu and Kashmir. The President has no right to suspend his Constitution in the State. The National emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution can be extended to Jammu and Kashmir to a limited extent and the financial emergency under Article 360 cannot be enforced in Jammu and Kashmir.
Under part four of the Constituion of India there is procedure for one constitutional practice, one administrative structure and one economic pattern. But under Article 370 Jammu and Kashmir has its right under its own constition to do whatever it likes. It is because of the separate flag and separate symbol that two flags flutter on the Government buildings in the state. For hoisting freely the National flag, permission has to be sought from the State flag because it is necessary to hoist the national flag with the state flag.
There is only one system of citizenship for the people of the country but in case of Jammu and Kashmir, it is dual citizenship, one of the state and the other of India. The citizens of Jammu and Kashmir are citizens of India but the citizens of the rest of India cannot be citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. He does not have the right to have property and the right to vote in Jammu and Kashmir. If a girl belonging to Jammu and Kashmir marries a boy from outside the state, who is not a state subject, she loses all her rights in the state. Even the wealth tax cannot be imposed in the state. The Urban Land Act, 1976, which is in force in the entire country is not applicable to Jammu and Kashmir. The result of it is that rich landlords, belonging to the majority community in the Valley, indulge in economic exploitation of the poor and the Indian citizens, who are non-state subjects and living in the valley, cannot even secure loans from the financial institutions.
It is because of Article 370 that political groupism receives encouragement and no local nationalist Government can remain durable if it is not the product of anti-national elements. The state Government did not accept the Anti-defection law adopted in the country and instead made several amendments. Here the decision on defection is not taken by the speaker of the Assembly but by the leader of the connected political party. This gives constitutional legitimacy to the unbridled authority of the leader of the party. Since the Governor usually is not a citizen of the state, he has no right to vote, the separatist elements treat him an outsider and equate themselves with slaves. During the 80's the Wazir Commission had recommended measures forpolitical reforms in Kashmir but due to Article 370 these recommendations have not been implemented.
Burning of the national flag is not a cognizable offence in Kashmir because there cannot be proper arrangement for the basic duties enshrined in the Constitution under which the tricolour, the national anthem and the national symbol have to be shown due respect. Under Article 370 the Indian Parliament cannot increase or reduce the borders of the state. The Union Government implements international agreements and accords under Article 253 of the Constitution but Jammu and Kashmir is beyond its jurisdiction. Muslims from other parts of the country become successful in getting the citizenship of the Jammu and Kashmir but about one lakh Hindus, who had been uprooted in the neighbourhood at the time of the partition, have not been given citizenship so far. Under the umbrella of Article 370 the fundamentalists have received strength in their campaign for Islamisation.
Article 370 revives the two-nation theory and secures security for it in the future. On one side we proclaim in the world that in India their is no discrimination on the basis of religion, community or sect, on the other hand special facilities are being given to Kashmir because there the Muslims are in majority. If these special privileges are being given on the plea that Kashmir is a backward area, is there no other place in india where backwardness and poverty are less important ? In fact several thousand crores of rupees have been spent in Kashmir and the result is apparent. Anti-national elements are active. Instead of bringing the people to the national mainstream, we have, in comparison to other states, given unlimited rights to the people which have made them a pampered lot. People of Kashmir became suspicious about the accession and the anti- national elements got an opportunity for launching an open disinformation campaign against India. Pakistan supported these separatist organisations. The result was that Kashmiri youths picked up arms against India and forced over three lakh Hindu patriots to leave their houses and property in Kashmir and live in the plains a life of penury and misery.
Our Constitution gives equal rights to all citizens but this right is not available in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the tale of local versus non-local who are not state subjects. They do not enjoy any political and economic rights. Their wards cannot get admission in the colleges in Kashmir. Article 370 has violated the principle cf Indian citizenship. The maker of the Constitution of India, Dr. Ambedkar, had cautioned Nehru on the plea that it can create difficulties in full integration of the state with India. This Article would sow the seeds of separatism in the Valley. At least Dr. Ambedkar's warning can be understood now but the politics of vote appeasement does not allow it.
It is quite evident that Article 370 has not integrated Jammu and Kashmir with India but it has delinked it. There in Kashmir is no place for secularism and nationalism in the mind of the youth. The feelings of regionalism, communalism and separatism have been developed in their mind. Instead of coming closer to the national mainstream, they have distanced themselves from it and have now started raking up the question of independence. On April 7, 1958 the Plebiscite Front, of Sheikh Abdullah adopted a resolution and the wording of the resolution clearly indicates how Kashmiri leaders have been working for making the Muslim society anti-India and pro-Pakistan and for this the leaders took the refuge under Article 370. The resolution had made a mention of this Article and said:
"Jammu and Kashmir state has not yet acceded to any of the two dominions, India and Pakistan. Therefore, it will not be right to call Pakistani invasion on Jammu and Kashmir as an attack on India."
Under Article 370 Kashmiri Muslim leaders have been opposing any welfare schemes formulated by the Government of India. No scheme relating to family welfare, formulated by the Government of India, is in force in Kashmir. The programme was implemented in the Jammu region becawe of being a Hindu majority area. A former Chief Minister, G.M. Shah, had said that the aim of the Government family planning programme was to convert the Muslim majority into a minority. Such type of false propaganda has given birth to separatism which received shelter under Article 370.
According to a former Governor, Jagmohan, Article 370 should be scrapped because it has become an instrument of injustice and inequalities. It waters the roots of corrupt elements. It nourishes narrow-minded and reactionary forces. It fully accepts the principle of two-nation theory. It fills the mind of the youth with the garbage of false desires. It gitres birth to narrow lines and narrow faith. This encourages and nourishes regional tensions.
Historical facts reveal that prior to this Article, both Hindus and Muslims were part of the national mainstream. There was no animosity or hatred. During the 1947 Pakistani aggression on Kashmir, Kashmiri Muslims not only welcomed the Indian Army but also assisted them in nabbing the infiltrators. Then why the same Muslim society is launching an attack on the Indian Army at present? This is the result of the poison of Article 370. On seeing the Poisonous impact of this Article on the Kashmiri mind that a former External Affairs Minister, M.C. Chagla, had told the United Nations that the Article was a temporary measure. This Article should be abolished. The two former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad and G.M. Sadiq, too wanted this Article to be repealed. The Government of India too had assured people that when the time comes, the Article would be scrapped. But our political interests and the mean and directionless politics of vote bank based on appeasement have not allowed this to materialise. By duping people in the name of secularism, removal of poverty and promotion of equality our leaders have abolished the Privy purses but it is difficult for them to abolish Article 370 for the sake of the integrity of the country. Who will make these leaders understand that after having tasted the bitter fruit of Article 370 let them watch the other side of the coin by abrogating the Article. The armed struggle for liberation is not something separate from the demand for plebiscite and self-determination.
This Article, meant to be a temporary clause in the Constitution, has become a special barrier which is promoting and encouraging Muslim state in the Kashmir valley. This anti- national Article has strengthened its roots because of our weak policies, wavering decisions and growing Islamic fundamentalism and this Article cannot be abrogated so long Governments, favouring the policy of appeasement, remain in power in the centre. This Article opens the door for subversion in the country. The basic idea behind the Anandpur Sahib resolution of the Akalis is the same Article 370. This Article is not a constitutional necessity. The special status given to Jammu and Kashmir is an insult to the people of all other states in the country. There are innumerable facilities, under this special status, for the people who have begun their revolt against India and who are conspiring for Islamisation of entire India, against helplessness and suffocation for people who are nationalists and are one with the ups and downs of India. Article 370 is like a piece of bone stuck in the gullet: if it is swallowed, it may lead to death and if not, still death is there. But when the bone has become dangerous for the existence of the body. it is better to throw it out. There is now need for the abrogation of Article 370 in the interests of security and integrity of the country. It is the need of hour to fully integrate the state with India by abolishing the special status and by abrogating its own consitution.
A political section is of the opinion that this Article cannot be abrogated. But according to Dr. Babu Ram Chauhan, an expert on international law and the Constitution of India, this Article can be scrapped even without the concurrence and approval of the state Assembly The President of India and the Indian Parliament can repeal it. It is clear from Articles 3 and 5 of the State Constitution that Jammu and Kashmir state will remain an "inseparable" part of India. The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir has been framed under the Constitution of India. Why cannot the Government abrogate the Article in the interest of the nation when the same Government has allowed the State to frame its constitution ?
The utility of Article 370 has been finished now. Its utility has ceased with the people in Kashmir having launched an open revolt and with their guerrilla war against the Indian Army. It is nothing but ridiculous to tell a man, who has come to kill you, to slap you and forge an agreement. What is the meaning af the bait af Article 370 for those who are fully equipped with arms to secure independence for Kashmir? Will a glutton feel satisfied with a crumb ? Now only one way is left: launch a full military campaign against the anti-national elements for finishing them and start, on a war footing, measures for bringing the remaining Kashmiri society to the national mainstream. For this there is need for a search of nationalist leadership among the Kashmiri youth, particularly the Muslim youths. This plan can fructify only after giving up the politics of narrow-mindedness. This is certain that it can pave the way for the national plan of abrogating Article 370.

Indian Embassy

  INTRODUCTION ON EMBASSY

One country’s chief diplomatic office in another (generally in the capital city of the host country) where the main diplomatic officer is the ambassador (or high commissioner, in British Commonwealth) is called an Embassy. Embassy premises and its entire diplomatic staff fall below the sovereignty of the ambassador’s abode country and are confined under the notion of diplomatic immunity by the host country.

  The Role of Indian Embassy 

The role of the Indian Embassy is meaningful and legal making a spot on all countries in the world with its diplomatic and legal laws that are followed in every country by its well-organized and dynamic ambassadors of India. It is a cause of goodwill to the Commonwealth countries and a common podium for sharing of opinions and carrying out goodwill projects to profit the citizens of all the countries in the world.

Wind, solar energy to get big push under Narendra Modi-led NDA

Environment: Clear the air on green clearances

What is humidex?

What is the importance of humidity?

What are some of the hazards of working in hot environments?

Can workplaces use humidex to monitor conditions that may result in heat-related illness?

How do I know what the humidex is?

Table 2

Framework for Safety Culture

  The organization's culture provides the framework for introducing safety education and safe practices. Organizational culture is not something that you can photograph or download from the Internet. However, you can see traces of it, and you can feel it when you enter some workplaces. Here are some clues that you can use to identify your organization's "culture".

Language/customs/rituals

Every organization has its own "language"\ terms that are part of what goes on within the nonprofit. These words and ideas also signify the way people are expected to behave in your workplace and with clients. "Customs" can be described as the routines for giving and obtaining service, and "rituals" describe the events that take place on a regular basis, such as an annual volunteer recognition event, a fundraiser or a board retreat. Is "safety" part of the language of your nonprofit? Or is safety considered something that is just the cleaning crew's, building engineer's or safety coordinator's job?

Being part of a team \ group norms

Group norms describe the ways in which people are expected to work together in groups?what behaviors are OK, what is not OK, and what is completely taboo. Behavioral expectations are some of the key aspects of organizational culture. What types of behavior is expected in the realm of safety?
Values and beliefs

An organization's mission reflects the nonprofit's core values and beliefs. Treatment of clients, community outreach and the stewardship of resources all reflect these values and beliefs. Is safety part of your nonprofit's value structure? Are people rewarded in a tangible, visible way for promoting safety and working safely?

Rules of the game

These are the rules that are not written down, but must be understood if a person is to get along in the organization. These "rules" also indicate what is considered of value within the organization. Are good safety practices among the unwritten rules of your nonprofit?

Climate

"Climate" describes the feeling that is conveyed by the physical layout and the way in which members of the organization interact with each other, clients, donors and members of the public. How does the physical layout of your nonprofit make a statement about your commitment to safety? Are safety concerns evident in the interaction among employees and volunteers and in staff interaction with clients, donors and members of the public?

The Way Things Are Done \ Patterns of Problem Solving

The ways people are "shown the ropes" of the organization including how problems are identified and solved within the organization illustrate patterns of problem solving. How are newcomers told about the nonprofit's commitment to safety? Are new employees briefed on safety procedures? Do they know that there are consequences for ignoring safety practices or engaging in unsafe behavior? Are the consequences enforced?

Checklist

Answer "Yes" or "No."

"Safety" is part of the language of the nonprofit.

Safety is part of your nonprofit's value structure.

Safety is considered something that is the cleaning crew's, building engineer's or safety coordinator's and everyone else's job.

People are rewarded in a tangible, visible way for promoting safety.

Safe practices are part of the unwritten rules of your nonprofit.

Safety concerns are evident in the interaction among staff and volunteers and in their interaction with clients, donors and members of the public.

New employees are briefed on safety procedures.

New employees know that there are consequences for ignoring safety practices or engaging in unsafe behavior.

Consequences for ignoring safety practices or engaging in unsafe behavior are enforced.

Facility ____________________  Area ___________________

Auditor ___________________    Date __________

Area	Satisfactory	Action Required	Corrective Action (date)
Employee Knowledge
Last date of training
Normal Operating Procedures
Emergency Operating Procedures
Program Administration
Last audit date
Written Program
Boiler Supervisor Assigned
Records
Training
Inspections - Weekly
Inspections - Internal
Inspections - External
Water chemistry records
Test records
Relief valve test records
Fuel tests
Safeguards
Engineering Safeguards
Administrative Safeguards
Training Safeguards
Equipment Inspection
Controls
Alarms
Pumps
Valves
Blowers
Insulation
Area Inspection
Chemical storage
No leaks
Lighting
No flammable material
Notes

 

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

Sampling and monitoring equipment is available to quantify exposures to contaminants, noise, radiation, and heat. Correct sampling strategy and interpretation are essential elements of an industrial hygiene survey. Confined spaces, ventilation changes, the performance of collection systems, and pressure relief valves are all items of concern for exposure evaluation.

Industrial hygiene is defined as the recognition, evaluation, and control of workplace hazards. Its origins are based on limiting personal exposures to chemicals, and have evolved to address the control of most other workplace hazards including over-exposure to noise, heat, vibration, and repetitive motion.

Occupational exposure to chemicals is still considered one of the most wide spread hazards in industry. The use of engineering controls is the preferred method of limiting these exposures. Dilution and capture ventilation are two important methods to control occupational exposure. The design and position of hoods and vents, and amount of air infiltration can substantially change exposure conditions. Material Safety Data Sheets and other documentation provide a basis for predicting adverse effects, disposal needs, and fire and ignition concerns.
The selection of appropriate personal protective equipment for exposure control often requires both an understanding of the limitations of the equipment, and the expected exposure parameters as determined by an industrial hygiene evaluation. Engineering controls are considered the preferred method of control, but personal protective equipment plays an important role for health, safety, and rescue, especially when using confined space entry procedures. The potential for misuse or misapplication of these devices should be evaluated.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health are three organizations which establish many of the rules governing allowable workplace exposures. Permissible exposure limits for noise, chemicals, heat, and other workplace stressors have been established and often include safety factors.

HAZARD & OPERABILITY STUDIES

INTRODUCTION

The technique of Hazard and Operability Studies, or in more common terms HAZOPS, has been used and developed over approximately four decades for 'identifying potential hazards and operability problems' caused by 'deviations from the design intent' of both new and existing process plants.  Before progressing further, it might be as well to clarify some aspects of these statements.

Potential Hazard AND Operability Problems

You will note the capitalised 'AND' in the heading above.  Because of the high profile of production plant accidents, emphasis is too often placed upon the identification of hazards to the neglect of potential operability problems.  Yet it is in the latter area that benefits of a Hazop Study are usually the greatest.  To quote an example, a study was commissioned for a new plant.  Some two years previously, and for the first time, a similar study had been carried out on different plant at the same site which was then in the process of being designed.  Before the latest review commenced, the Production Manager expressed the hope that the same benefits would accrue as before, stating that "in his twenty years of experience, never had a new plant been commissioned with so few problems, and no other plant had ever achieved its production targets and break-even position in so short a time".

Deviation from design intent

To deal firstly with 'design intent', all industrial plant is designed with an overall purpose in mind.  It may be to produce a certain tonnage per year of a particular chemical, to manufacture a specified number of cars, to process and dispose of a certain volume of effluent per annum, etc.  That could be said to be the main design intent of the plant, but in the vast majority of cases it would also be understood that an important subsidiary intent would be to conduct the operation in the safest and most efficient manner possible.

With this in mind equipment is designed and constructed which, when it is all assembled and working together, will achieve the desired goals.  However, in order to do so, each item of equipment, each pump and length of pipework, will need to consistently function in a particular manner.  It is this manner which could be classified as the 'design intent' for that particular item.  To illustrate, imagine that as part of the overall production requirement we needed a cooling water facility.  For this we would almost certainly have cooling water circuit pipework in which would be installed a pump as very roughly illustrated below.

A much simplified statement as to the design intent of this small section of the plant would be "to continuously circulate cooling water at an initial temperature of xºC and at a rate of xxx litres per hour".  It is usually at this low level of design intent that a Hazop Study is directed.  The use of the word 'deviation' now becomes more easy to understand.  A deviation or departure from the design intent in the case of our cooling facility would be a cessation of circulation, or the water being at too high an initial temperature.  Note the difference between a deviation and its cause. In the case above, failure of the pump would be a cause, not a deviation.

Industries in which the technique is employed

Hazops were initially 'invented' by ICI in the United Kingdom, but the technique only started to be more widely used within the chemical process industry after the Flixborough disaster in 1974.  This chemical plant explosion killed twenty eight people and injured scores of others, many of those being members of the public living nearby.  Through the general exchange of ideas and personnel, the system was then adopted by the petroleum industry, which has a similar potential for major disasters.  This was then followed by the food and water industries, where the hazard potential is as great, but of a different nature, the concerns being more to do with contamination rather than explosions or chemical releases.

The reasons for such widespread use of Hazops

Safety and reliability in the design of plant initially relies upon the application of various codes of practise, or design codes and standards.  These represent the accumulation of knowledge and experience of both individual experts and the industry as a whole.  Such application is usually backed up by the experience of the engineers involved, who might well have been previously concerned with the design, commissioning or operation of similar plant.

However, it is considered that although codes of practise are extremely valuable, it is important to supplement them with an imaginative anticipation of deviations which might occur because of, for example, equipment malfunction or operator error.  In addition, most companies will admit to the fact that for a new plant, design personnel are under pressure to keep the project on schedule.  This pressure always results in errors and oversights.  The Hazop Study is an opportunity to correct these before such changes become too expensive, or 'impossible' to accomplish.

Although no statistics are available to verify the claim, it is believed that the Hazop methodology is perhaps the most widely used aid to loss prevention.  The reason for this can most probably be summarised as follows:

• It is easy to learn.
• It can be easily adapted to almost all the operations that are carried out within process industries.
• No special level of academic qualification is required.  One does not need to be a university graduate to participate in a study.

 

THE BASIC CONCEPT

Essentially the Hazops procedure involves taking a full description of a process and systematically questioning every part of it to establish how deviations from the design intent can arise.  Once identified, an assessment is made as to whether such deviations and their consequences can have a negative effect upon the safe and efficient operation of the plant.  If considered necessary, action is then taken to remedy the situation.

This critical analysis is applied in a structured way by the Hazop team, and it relies upon them releasing their imagination in an effort to discover credible causes of deviations.  In practice, many of the causes will be fairly obvious, such as pump failure causing a loss of circulation in the cooling water facility mentioned above.  However, the great advantage of the technique is that it encourages the team to consider other less obvious ways in which a deviation may occur, however unlikely they may seem at first consideration.  In this way the study becomes much more than a mechanistic check-list type of review.  The result is that there is a good chance that potential failures and problems will be identified which had not previously been experienced in the type of plant being studied.

Keywords

An essential feature in this process of questioning and systematic analysis is the use of keywords to focus the attention of the team upon deviations and their possible causes. These keywords are divided into two sub-sets:

• Primary Keywords which focus attention upon a particular aspect of the design intent or an associated process condition or parameter.
• Secondary Keywords which, when combined with a primary keyword, suggest possible deviations.

The entire technique of Hazops revolves around the effective use of these keywords, so their meaning and use must be clearly understood by the team.  Examples of often used keywords are listed below.

Primary Keywords

These reflect both the process design intent and operational aspects of the plant being studied.  Typical process oriented words might be as follows.  The list below is purely illustrative, as the words employed in a review will depend upon the plant being studied.

	Flow	Temperature
	Pressure	Level
	Separate (settle, filter, centrifuge)	Composition
	React	Mix
	Reduce (grind, crush, etc.)	Absorb
	Corrode	Erode

Note that some words may be included which appear at first glance to be completely unrelated to any reasonable interpretation of the design intent of a process.  For example, one may question the use of the word Corrode, on the assumption that no one would intend that corrosion should occur.  Bear in mind, however, that most plant is designed with a certain life span in mind, and implicit in the design intent is that corrosion should not occur, or if it is expected, it should not exceed a certain rate.  An increased corrosion rate in such circumstances would be a deviation from the design intent.

Remembering that the technique is called Hazard & OperabilityStudies, added to the above might be relevant operational words such as:

	Isolate	Drain
	Vent	Purge
	Inspect	Maintain
	Start-up	Shutdown

This latter type of Primary Keyword is sometimes either overlooked or given secondary importance.  This can result in the plant operator having, for example, to devise impromptu and sometimes hazardous means of taking a non-essential item of equipment off-line for running repairs because no secure means of isolation has been provided.  Alternatively, it may be discovered that it is necessary to shut down the entire plant just to re-calibrate or replace a pressure gauge.  Or perhaps during commissioning it is found that the plant cannot be brought on-stream because no provision for safe manual override of the safety system trips has been provided.

Secondary Keywords

As mentioned above, when applied in conjunction with a Primary Keyword, these suggest potential deviations or problems. They tend to be a standard set as listed below:

	Word	Meaning
	No	The design intent does not occur (e.g. Flow/No), or the operational aspect is not achievable (Isolate/No)
	Less	A quantitative decrease in the design intent occurs (e.g. Pressure/Less)
	More	A quantitative increase in the design intent occurs (e.g. Temperature/More)
	Reverse	The opposite of the design intent occurs (e.g. Flow/Reverse)
	Also	The design intent is completely fulfilled, but in addition some other related activity occurs (e.g. Flow/Also indicating contamination in a product stream, or Level/Also meaning material in a tank or vessel which should not be there)
	Other	The activity occurs, but not in the way intended (e.g. Flow/Other could indicate a leak or product flowing where it should not, or Composition/Other might suggest unexpected proportions in a feedstock)
	Fluctuation	The design intention is achieved only part of the time (e.g. an air-lock in a pipeline might result in Flow/Fluctuation)
	Early	Usually used when studying sequential operations, this would indicate that a step is started at the wrong time or done out of sequence
	Late	As for Early

It should be noted that not all combinations of Primary/Secondary words are appropriate.  For example, Temperature/No (absolute zero or -273ºC !) or Pressure/Reverse could be considered as meaningless.

HAZOP STUDY METHODOLOGY

In simple terms, the Hazop study process involves applying in a systematic way all relevant keyword combinations to the plant in question in an effort to uncover potential problems.  The results are recorded in columnar format under the following headings:

DEVIATION	CAUSE	CONSEQUENCE	SAFEGUARDS	ACTION

In considering the information to be recorded in each of these columns, it may be helpful to take as an example the simple schematic below.  Note that this is purely representational, and not intended to illustrate an actual system.

Deviation
The keyword combination being applied (e.g. Flow/No).

Cause
Potential causes which would result in the deviation occurring. (e.g. "Strainer S1 blockage due to impurities in Dosing Tank T1" might be a cause of Flow/No).

Consequence
The consequences which would arise, both from the effect of the deviation (e.g. "Loss of dosing results in incomplete separation in V1") and, if appropriate, from the cause itself (e.g. "Cavitation in Pump P1, with possible damage if prolonged").

Always be explicit in recording the consequences.  Do not assume that the reader at some later date will be fully aware of the significance of a statement such as "No dosing chemical to Mixer". It is much better to add the explanation as set out above.

When assessing the consequences, one should not take any credit for protective systems or instruments which are already included in the design.  For example, suppose the team had identified a cause of Flow/No (in a system which has nothing to do with the one illustrated above) as being spurious closure of an actuated valve.  It is noticed that there is valve position indication within the Central Control Room, with a software alarm on spurious closure.  They may be tempted to curtail consideration of the problem immediately, recording something to the effect of "Minimal consequences, alarm would allow operator to take immediate remedial action".  However, had they investigated further they might have found that the result of that spurious valve closure would be over pressure of an upstream system, leading to a loss of containment and risk of fire if the cause is not rectified within three minutes.  It only then becomes apparent how inadequate is the protection afforded by this software alarm.

Safeguards
Any existing protective devices which either prevent the cause or safeguard against the adverse consequences would be recorded in this column.  For example, you may consider recording "Local pressure gauge in discharge from pump might indicate problem was arising".  Note that safeguards need not be restricted to hardware… where appropriate, credit can be taken for procedural aspects such as regular plant inspections (if you are sure that they will actually be carried out!).

Action
Where a credible cause results in a negative consequence, it must be decided whether some action should be taken.  It is at this stage that consequences and associated safeguards are considered.  If it is deemed that the protective measures are adequate, then no action need be taken, and words to that effect are recorded in the Action column.

Actions fall into two groups:

1. Actions that remove the cause.
2. Actions that mitigate or eliminate the consequences.

Whereas the former is to be preferred, it is not always possible, especially when dealing with equipment malfunction.  However, always investigate removing the cause first, and only where necessary mitigate the consequences.  For example, to return to the "Strainer S1 blockage due to impurities etc." entry referred to above, we might approach the problem in a number of ways:

• Ensure that impurities cannot get into T1 by fitting a strainer in the road tanker offloading line.
• Consider carefully whether a strainer is required in the suction to the pump.  Will particulate matter pass through the pump without causing any damage, and is it necessary to ensure that no such matter gets into V1.  If we can dispense with the strainer altogether, we have removed the cause of the problem.
• Fit a differential pressure gauge across the strainer, with perhaps a high dP alarm to give clear indication that a total blockage is imminent.
• Fit a duplex strainer, with a regular schedule of changeover and cleaning of the standby unit.

Three notes of caution need to be borne in mind when formulating actions.  Do not automatically opt for an engineered solution, adding additional instrumentation, alarms, trips, etc.  Due regard must be taken of the reliability of such devices, and their potential for spurious operation causing unnecessary plant down-time.  In addition, the increased operational cost in terms of maintenance, regular calibration, etc. should also be considered (the lifetime cost of a simple instrument will be at least twice its purchase price… for more complex instrumentation this figure will be significantly greater).  It is not unknown for an over-engineered solution to be less reliable than the original design because of inadequate testing and maintenance.

Finally, always take into account the level of training and experience of the personnel who will be operating the plant.  Actions which call for elaborate and sophisticated protective systems are wasted, as well as being inherently dangerous, if operators do not, and never will, understand how they function.  It is not unknown for such devices to be disabled, either deliberately or in error, because no one knows how to maintain or calibrate them.

Considering all Keywords - The Hazop procedure

Having gone through the operations involved in recording a single deviation, these can now be put into the context of the actual study meeting procedure.  From the flow diagram below it can be seen that it is very much an iterative process, applying in a structured and systematic way the relevant keyword combinations in order to identify potential problems.

Chemicals have become a part of our life for sustaining many of our day-to-day activities, preventing and controlling diseases, and increasing agricultural productivity etc. An estimation of one thousand new chemicals enter the market every year, and about 100000 chemical substances are used on a global scale. These chemicals are mostly found as mixtures in commercial products. Over one million such products or trade names are available.

The chemical industrial sector is highly heterogeneous encompassing many sectors like organic, inorganic chemicals, dyestuffs, paints, pesticides, specialty chemicals, etc. Some of the prominent individual chemical industries are caustic soda, soda ash, carbon black, phenol, acetic acid, methanol and azo dyes. Chemical manufacturing sector in India is well established and has recorded a steady growth in the overall Indian industrial scenario. The Chemical and allied industries have been amongst the faster growing segments of the Indian industry. The Indian chemical industrial sector had a turnover of around Rs.1200 billion in 2001-2002. The chemical exports also accounts for more than 16.20% of the total Indian exports during 2001-2002.

The risks associated with the chemical industry are commensurate with their rapid growth and development. Apart from their utility, chemicals have their own inherent properties and hazards. Some of them can be flammable, explosive, toxic or corrosive etc. The whole lifecycle of a chemical should be considered when assessing its dangers and benefits. Though many of chemical accidents have a limited effect, occasionally there are disasters like the one in Bhopal, India, in 1984, where lakhs of people were affected and LPG explosion in Vizag refinery where huge property damage in addition to 60 deaths was experienced. Therefore chemicals have the potential to affect the nearby environment also.

·         Design and Pre-modification review : Improper layout like location of plant in down wind side of tank farm , fire station near process area , process area very close to public road and wrong material of selection had caused severe damages to the work and outside environment

·         Chemical Risk Assessment: Not assessed for new chemicals from the point of view of compatibility, storage, fire protection, toxicity, hazard index rating, fire and explosion hazards

·         Process Safety Management: HAZOP, FTA, F&E Index calculation, reliability assessment of process equipment, incorporating safety trips and interlocks, scrubbing system, etc. not done before effecting major process changes, lack of Management of Change procedure (MoC), etc.

·         Electrical Safety: Hazardous area classification , protection against static electricity , improper maintenance of specialized equipment like flameproof etc were ignored.

·         Safety Audits: Periodical assessment of safety procedures and practices, performance of safety systems and gadgets along with follow up measures were not carried out.

·         Emergency Planning: Lack of comprehensive risk analysis indicating the impact of consequences and specific written down and practiced emergency procedures along with suitable facilities had increased the severity of the emergency situations.

·         Training: Safety induction and periodical refresher training for the regular employees and contract workmen were not carried out.

·         Risk Management & Insurance Planning: Thorough identification and analysis of all risks and insurance planning were not done so that interruption risks and public liability risks could also be managed effectively.

A. Risk Management

Following specialized risk management services are required  to chemical industries, considering the kind of risks that exists in these plant operations:

1. STANDARD CONFORMANCE and PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (SCOPE)

SCOPE would evaluate the existing measures / system based on applicable national / international standards.

A few SCOPE reviews that we recommend for chemical manufacturing plants are:

1.1 SCOPE-FP (Fire Protection)

Indian Standards

·         IS 2189 - Standard for automatic fire detection and alarm system

·         IS 2190 - Code of practice for selection, installation and maintenance of first aid fire extinguishers

·         IS 3844 - Code of practice for installation and maintenance of internal fire hydrants and hose reels

·         IS 6382 - Carbon dioxide fire extinguishing system - fixed, design and installation

TAC Standard

Tariff Advisory Committee recommendations on hydrant and sprinkler system for fire protection.

Oil Industry Safety Directorate

·         OISD 117 - Fire Protection Facilities for Petroleum Depots and Terminals

·         OISD 142 - Inspection of fire fighting equipment and systems

·         OISD 158 - Recommended Practices on Storage and Handling of Bulk Liquefied Petroleum Gas

NFPA Standards

·         NFPA 12 Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishing Systems

·         NFPA 654 Prevention of Fire & Dust in Pharmaceutical Industries

·         NFPA 1600 Disaster Management

·         NFPA 921 Fire & Explosion Investigation

·         NFPA 45 Fire protection for Laboratories using Chemicals

1.2 SCOPE - OHS (Occupational Health and Safety)

·         IS 14489 Code of Practice for Occupational Safety & Health Audit

·         NFPA 101 Life Safety Code

1.3 SCOPE-ER (Electrical Risk)

·         Hazardous Area Classification (base standard: IS 5572)

·         Selection of Electrical Equipment for Hazardous Areas (base standard: IS 5571)

·         Lightning Protection (base document: IS: 2309 /NFPA 780 /BS 6651)

·         NFPA 70 BRecommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance

·         NFPA 70 EStandard for Electrical Safety in Employee Work places

2.0 PROCESS SAFETY MANAGEMENT

·         Hazard & Operability (HAZOP) studies

·         Failure Tree Analysis (FTA)

·         Event Tree Analysis (ETA)

·         Primary Hazard Analysis (PHA) using Dow Index

·         Risk Assessment (with risk ranking technique)

3.0 ELECTRICAL RISK ASSESSMENT

·         Review of Hazardous Area Classification

·         Lightning Protection Risk Assessment

·         Identification & Control of Electro-Static Hazards

·         Review of electrical Preventive Maintenance System

·         Electrical Risk Assessment (fire, shock explosion) using Semi-Quantitative Risk Ranking (SQRR) technique

4.0 FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

·         Identification & assessment of fire risks during operations in receipt, storage, transfer and handling of chemicals (raw materials and finished products)

·         Identification & control of ignition sources in areas where flammable chemicals are stored / handled / transferred

o    Review of chemical compatibility in storage areas and to suggest appropriate fire loss control measures

o    Review of fire detection measures adopted in the plant & to suggest suitable improvement measures

o    Review of the various active (fire hydrant, sprinkler, portable fire extinguishers) and passive fire protection requirements for chemical storage and handling areas and to suggest improvements as necessary

o    Review of contractor safety awareness (chemical spill, fire fighting, emergency communication, knowledge of plant hazards & safety regulations) and to recommend suitable improvement measures to enhance contractor safety

o    Review of safety awareness and safety training requirements ( training identification and efficacy) of plant employees with respect to hazards present in the plant

Fire risk assessment will be carried out based on techniques like Matrix method, Hani Raafat Risk Calculator. The consequence, likelihood and exposure of each hazard are arrived using a systematic approach and will help to determine the relative importance of hazard and focus on significant risks.

5.0 RISK ANALYSIS & EMERGENCY PLAN

·         Identification of scenarios of potential disasters / emergencies leading to loss of life , property damage etc. and qualitative assessment of their likelihood.

·         Quantitative risk assessment for selected scenarios of major credible events.

·         Recommendations for risk control measures wherever applicable.

·         Preparation of onsite emergency preparedness plan

6.0 RISK MANAGEMENT & INSURANCE PLANNING

• Identification of all major internal and external pure risks including the natural risks and analysis of the impact of above risks
• Review of existing risk control measures and offering comments
• Scrutiny of all existing major insurance policies in respect of:
• Rationalization of basic rate of premium and widening of covers
• Applicability / eligibility of discounts in premium
• Application of suitable clauses, warranties and conditions
• Identification of possible areas for refund of premium and suggestions regarding procedure for the same
• Selection of insurance coverage on the basis of risk analysis
• Providing guidelines for fixation of sum insured and illustrate the same on a selected equipment
• Evaluation of business interruption exposure due to identified risks
• Providing guidelines on documentation requirements, procedures for claims under various policies, evaluation of insurers

B. Risk Management Training

Specialized and focussed training, if imparted effectively, can contribute significantly to Risk Management. Expert faculty, carefully selected training module, interactive and participate approach, useful training material, case studies and syndicate exercises could help in having effective risk management system in place. The training topics for bulk drug industry could be:

·         Chemical Safety

·         Safety with Compressed gases

·         Solvent Safety

·         Hazard Identification Techniques

·         Industrial Risk Management

·         Fire Prevention and Protection

·         Electrical Risk Management

·         Emergency Preparedness

·         Safety Management system

·         Accident Prevention

·         Personal Protective Equipment

Fertilizer producer IFFCO looks for revised subsidies

A farmer sprays fertilizer on a cabbage field on the outskirts of Agartala, capital of India's northeastern state of Tripura October 24, 2013. India's finance minister is finding it harder and harder to meet the government's budget promises and may sweep as much as $15 billion in subsidy costs into next year's accounts to ensure he hits fiscal targets ahead of national elections, ministry officials say. To match Exclusive INDIA-ECONOMY/BUDGET