This title looks at how people, as opposed to technology and computers, are arguably the most unreliable factor within plants, leading to dangerous situations.

This is an updated and expanded new edition of Trevor Kletz's work, including more examples of accidents caused by the various types of human error. It suggests to engineers how they might approach the problem of human error, and does so by describing accidents, which at first sight seem to be the result of human error. The author sets down his views on human error as a cause of accidents and illustrates them by describing a number of accidents that have occurred, mainly in the oil and chemical industries. He uses a pragmatic approach, rather than theoretical, to suggest new ways of looking at accident prevention.

Computer Control and Human Error presents accounts of various incidents at computer-controlled plants. These incidents include equipment and software faults; treating the computer as a "black box"; misjudging the way operators respond to the computer; errors in the data entry; failure to inform operators of changes in data or programs; and unauthorized interference with peripheral equipment. The discussion then turns to the use of hazard and operability studies (Hazops) to prevent or reduce errors in computer-controlled plants. The book describes the conventional Hazop as used in the process industry and an overview of the different Chazop frameworks/guidelines suggested by engineers and researchers. It then presents new Chazop methodology which is based on incident analysis. The final chapter presents reasons for failures in computerized systems, each of which is illustrated with an example. Most of the examples did not cause an actual safety problem, simply because they occurred within systems that are not safety-related. Some of these examples appear in the literature; others are from personal experience or from private communications.

Fundamentals of Risk Management for Process Industry Engineers outlines foundational principles of human-centered, sociotechnical risk management, and how they can be applied to deliver real improvements in risk identification, understanding, analysis, control, communication, and governance. To maximize sustainable competitiveness requires the identification and optimization of the range of risks that can impact a business. Hence, understanding the foundational principles of sociotechnical risk management is required to design and execute effective risk identification, optimization, and management strategies. - Covers the foundations of risk management - Explains how risk management and professional engineering practice are interrelated - Describes the role and importance of humans in risk management activities - Discusses the fundamentals surrounding how to identify, assess, treat, monitor, and review risks in high hazard industries - Presents the range of operational risks faced by process companies, including safety and health, environmental and social risk, project risk, and supply chain risk

Almost all the major accident investigations--Texas City, Piper Alpha, the Phillips 66 explosion, Feyzin, Mexico City--show human error as the principal cause, either in design, operations, maintenance, or the management of safety. This book provides practical advice that can substantially reduce human error at all levels. In eight chapters--packed with case studies and examples of simple and advanced techniques for new and existing systems--the book challenges the assumption that human error is "unavoidable." Instead, it suggests a systems perspective. This view sees error as a consequence of a mismatch between human capabilities and demands and inappropriate organizational culture. This makes error a manageable factor and, therefore, avoidable.

In contrast to nuclear plants and aerospace systems, human error is largely ignored in quantitative risk assessment for petroleum and chemical plants. Because of this, current risk analysis methods are able to calculate and predict only about one-third of the accidents happening in practice. Human Error in Process Plant Design and Operations: A Pra

Safety in the process industries is critical for those who work with chemicals and hazardous substances or processes. The field of loss prevention is, and continues to be, of supreme importance to countless companies, municipalities and governments around the world, and Lees' is a detailed reference to defending against hazards. Recognized as the standard work for chemical and process engineering safety professionals, it provides the most complete collection of information on the theory, practice, design elements, equipment, regulations and laws covering the field of process safety. An entire library of alternative books (and cross-referencing systems) would be needed to replace or improve upon it, but everything of importance to safety professionals, engineers and managers can be found in this all-encompassing three volume reference instead. - The process safety encyclopedia, trusted worldwide for over 30 years - Now available in print and online, to aid searchability and portability - Over 3,600 print pages cover the full scope of process safety and loss prevention, compiling theory, practice, standards, legislation, case studies and lessons learned in one resource as opposed to multiple sources

This 1991 book is a major theoretical integration of several previously isolated literatures looking at human error in major accidents.