Reliable Toxic Detector cum Alarm

A Reliable, Available and Maintainable Toxic Detector n Alarm

Yes, this time I am mentioning about a most reliable option which could sense release (most of the releases with odour) and immediately sound an alarm!! To buy, instal and maintain, it costs very little only... it comes in two models - one with low decibal y alarm and the other with high decibal alarm. Wonder which company makes it!!
The detector is very common and often we come across in our daily..
okay.. not extending the elaboration..
It is nothing other than Chicken, oh yes, Cock (high decibel) and Hen (low decibel).

I'm serious, not joking.
I have seen a procedure describing how to use chicken (in a cage) as a detector to check the presence of hydrogen sulphide in a tunnel/man-way. Recently, also saw some pictures showing chicken (again in cage) paced in various plant locations as a detector and alarm for toxic gas releases. I've seen these being practised by leading names in the chemical process industry.
I am leaving you to guess which part of globe this could happen.

I would like to rewind to 2nd world war days.. where Russian army used the first line of defence as soldiers with ordinary guns against the heavy artillery from Hitler's side. Such a pity was the value of human during those days. Sitution have become better (or not?) for human beings, but not fellow fouls and animals.

Who knows, what all different types of exentric (or reliable!) source of detection and alarms people use in different parts of the world.

Asbestos - a hazard? How bad that could be...

On one fine day, on my way back from work there was a ‘warning news’ on the radio.. “Asbestos - the greatest single cause of work-related deaths in the UK; more people die from asbestos related diseases per year than are killed on the roads”.
I was quite shocked or bit hesitant to accept the acme of danger from asbestos. I thought of doing bit research into the facts and figures.

Some statistics as an eye opener:
In the UK,
- 4000 deaths a year cause by asbestos (as of today), the estimated peak at more than 5000 a year (by 2013).
- every week 20 tradesmen die from asbestos related disease
- every week 6 electricians die from asbestos related disease
- every week 3 plumbers die from asbestos related disease
Long delay between initial exposure and diagnosis; typically 15-16 years gap.

Asbestos can form a dust and enter the lungs. Because of its tiny diameter, asbestos fibre can penetrate very deeply into the lungs. You can’t see the small thin fibres, but being exposed to fibres over a period of time can cause lung diseases.

Asbestos related diseases:
Asbestosis: lung fibrosis (irreversible scarring of the lung)
Mesothelioma: cancer of the lining of the lungs or stomach
Asbestos-related lung cancer:
Diffuse pleural thickening: restriction of the lungs leading to breathlessness


Most of the buildings could contain asbestos in different forms. Some of the common applications using asbestos are for pipeline lagging, loose packing, roofing, fire insulation, asbestos insulation board, floor tiles, gaskets and asbestos cement.

Anyone who disturbs asbestos-containing materials, for example, by working on them or near them is likely to be exposed to asbestos fibres.


Wrong notions:
Only certain types of asbestos are dangerous
Nothing to take serious about it
Anyone can handle (especially remove) asbestos
You can treat and cure

UK HSE has a campaign called ‘The Hidden Killer’ to tackle risk from asbestos. More information in the following link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/information.htm

End notes:
Avoid use of asbestos for any new build or refurbishments
Seek specialist advice and help in dealing with existing asbestos

Asbestos – a significant risk.

Consequence Assessment - DNV tool PHAST

Managing risk... First need to quantify the risk (semi or quanlitative are other options) For that, we should identify the hazard, estimate severity and then how frequent it could happen [Risk = Severity x Frequency]. For severty estimation, the extent of consequence from the event is to be predicted.

PHAST (Process Hazard Analysis Software Tool) by DNV is a software tool that I often use for consequence assessment. The coding of the tool started almost two decades back (sometime in late eighties). PHAST has developed ever since and still improving. I believe the wide recognition for the tool is mainly due to the technical support DNV offers and the continuous thrive to perform/satisfy the industry need. SafetiNL (Phast-Risk) is the only tool approved by the authority to perfrom QRA in the Netherlands. In the UK also, Phast is a widely accepted tool by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and often used for the Safety Reports (COMAH / Seveso).

DNV Software organise Phast user group meeting. It provides platform to learn about the new developments in the forth coming versions, share the experiences from fellow users and ofcourse a good place to meet contemporaries. The number of such events held a year (across globle) reflects the growth and acceptance of the software tools for consequence assessment and the importance, industry is giving for managing risk.

The current version of Phast is v6.53.1. The next version V6.54 is expected to be available to the users by the last quarter of 2008. Following version v6.6 is due by mid-2009. After that, DNV is going for a major overhaul in the structure of the tool with its v7.x (and thereon). So far the improvements were mainly on improving the basic codes and adding on to that. It is expected that from v7.x, the architecture itself is recreated whereby more cross functional features (with Risk, Leak, Orbital - all are related DNV software tools) will be incorporated.

Some of the main features added on to the forthcoming version, i.e. Phast v6.54:
- Support MS vista
- Additional options for modelling impinged releases (don't get too excited, this feature enables the user to change the velocity reduction following impinged releases only. Earlier it was fixed to 25%. The changes in jet pattern, droplet formation, atomisation etc.. are far away from realisation).
- Short duration effects will be available for some more model options (time-varying long pipeline, leak, line rupture, disc rupture and relief valve scenarios).
- Greater control over trapped droplets for indoor releases (mass modification factor changeable).
- Warehouse modelling: Added a feature which automatically generate scenarios for Dutch PGS-15 Directive. This is available in table form and quite helpful for quick editing. Also, more complicated structural details could be considered (warehouse that is a part of a larger building, area and height changes etc). New materials can be created (rather than limited to the Phast provided warehouse material!).
- Advancements in the risk: risk ranking reports (more options like selection of top event or similar consequences etc.), define the outcome with a new code (e.g. INDXOF = Instantaneous release, No rainout, Delayed ignition, eXplosion Only, Free field ignition).
- New version will provide warning on license expiry.
- Provision for adding solar radiation to flame radiation.
- Greater control over graphs and maps. e.g. possible to plot effect zone in the graphs as well.
and many other minor corrections and updates.

Now looking forward to use and explore the advantages of the new features.

SreeRaj R Nair
Process Safety

An intro..

The concept of risk management, hmm....first we need to know what risk is! come on… who does not know what risk is… it is used so commonly by many of us daily.

To express in the technical terms one could define as the product of the severity from a potential incident or event and how frequent could it happen. Some examples could be:

- Risk from day to day activity (sprain, pain / ache, stress, impatience…)

- Risk from travel (including driving, being a passenger or just being a pedestrian)

- Risk from natural disasters (earthquake, flooding, avalanche, hurricane, epidemics…)

- Risk from industrial accidents (explosions, fires, toxic release, run-away reactions..)

- Risk from terrorist attack

- Risk from investments (shares market, debentures, capital expenditure, marriage…)

The list can go even longer, and yes that is the purpose of this place - to list down the different sort of risks around us and how could we tackle them. It could be anything from the risk in forwarding junk emails to risk in buying a bottle of drink from a local shop.