(124b) Process Safety in Transient Operations: Human Impact on Mining and Minerals Industry

The mining and minerals industries are characterized by numerous high-risk activities that require significant human involvement. To enhance safety, organizations must integrate human performance into risk management practices and develop robust standard operating procedures (SOPs) that anticipate potential human errors and adapt to operational variations.

Transient operation Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) is a systematic and insightful approach to analyzing high-risk operations where strict adherence to procedures is critical for ensuring safety. In this setting, human performance becomes a crucial element of the risk management strategy. The successful implementation of this approach involves:

- Performing detailed assessments of high-risk transient operations where human intervention is necessary, while using procedural safeguards to manage residual risks.

- Developing comprehensive and clear procedures, as these controls are vital for maintaining safety during transitional phases or changes in the process.

- Increasing operator awareness regarding hazards, design safeguards, and the potential consequences of not fully understanding the operation and its procedural controls during transient conditions.

- Ensuring consistency in procedural controls and identifying additional design controls as needed for transient process conditions.