Publications about chemical, pharma and process technology
Process Safety E-ssentials: Safety news and technical information
In this section, you can find the different newsletters we sent, the references of the papers we published and the news related to the conferences we participated in.
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To access publications related to our events (posters, presentations, abstracts, etc.) click here to go to the "Previous events" section:
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December 2020
LOPA with Bowties – Quantify your Risk
This article gives a brief introduction to the application of the LOPA method to risk scenarios presented in a Bowtie. Both analysis tools have a strong focus on the elements of risk mitigation. An example is used to shows how the quality and completeness of a LOPA works together with the two-dimensional application of causes, effects and the corresponding protective layers. This combination benefits in particular fromfrom a more comprehensive overview of more complex cause-and-effect principles, in order to calculates the existing residual risk more accurately and, thus, to make better and risk-based decisions.
Download the article here [ PDF 1340 kB ]
WEBINAR - Bowties in Process Safety (3/3):
Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) with Bowties
 | Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) with Bowties (in German) We would like to invite you to our third cost-free technical webinar on bowties. This webinar is held in German only. For more information, please click here. TUESDAY, February 9, 2021 |11:00 - 12:00 CET |
May 2020 |
Application of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC in practice
 | In dealing with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, the manufacturer must decide in practice whether a work equipment is covered by the Directive and whether it is a completed machinery, a partly completed machinery or assemblies of machinery. Since the concept of machinery is very broad, a documented assessment has to be carried out systematically. In a further step, it is essential to check which requirements are necessary according to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and which conformity assessment procedure has to be applied. |
Maintenance in an ATEX-environment: Opening of a reactor/tank
 | Maintenance work on the vertical pump or agitator of a reactor or tank in an ATEX atmosphere generates high risk and impacts often production as well. Several approaches to this problem are given hereafter such as removal of flammable substances, changing to horizontal pumps, inertisation with argon or nitrogen. |
Two EPSC Learning Sheets this month
 | Translated and distributed by TÜV SÜD Process Safety, EPSC learning sheets are meant to stimulate awareness and discussion on Process Safety. This month we share with you two articles: the first about tank boil over, and another one about fatigue stress cracking: 20.01 EPSC Learning Sheet - Tank Boil Over [ PDF 182 kB ] 20.02 EPSC Learning Sheet - Fatigue stress cracking [ PDF 226 kB ] |
February 2020
Bow Tie for Risk Assessment
 | Diagrams and models improve mental processes and thus often make complex connections of causes and effects understandable. The Bow Tie method provides a model for the documentation and evaluation of risk situations. |
Two EPSC Learning Sheets this month
| | Translated and distributed by TÜV SÜD Process Safety, EPSC learning sheets are meant to stimulate awareness and discussion on Process Safety. This month we share with you two articles: the first about imploded storage tank, and another one about hydrogen sulphide explosion: 19.05 EPSC Learning Sheet - Imploded Tank [ PDF 296 kB ] |
July 2019
Thermal conductivity: C-Therm's Trident analyzer
 | In thermal process safety, the thermal conductivity has many applications, for example, the determination of the self-ignition temperature of self-heating substances (undergoing oxidation processes) using adiabatic measurements as well as the determination of the heat transfer of self-reactive substances during storage according to the Frank- Kamenetskii model. |
Several EPSC Learning Sheets this month
| | Translated and distributed by TÜV SÜD Process Safety, EPSC learning sheets are meant to stimulate awareness and discussion on Process Safety. This month we share with you several articles about flashing hydrocarbons, high pressure water cleaning, storage of packed chemicals and about release from flare system: 18.08 EPSC Learning Sheet - Flashing hydrocarbons [ PDF 269 kB ] 19.01 EPSC Learning sheet - High Pressure Water Cleaning [ PDF 246 kB ] 19.02 EPSC Learning sheet - Storage of Packed Chemicals [ PDF 264 kB ] 19.04 EPSC Learning sheet - Release from Flare system [ PDF 174 kB ] |
EVENT: Information day in Basel
 | We are pleased to invite you to our knowledge exchange event on[B] September 12th, 2019[/B] in Hotel Pullmann Europe, Clarastrasse 43, in Basel (Switzerland). |
April 2019
EPSC Learning Sheet: Incident at pressure leak test
| | Translated and distributed by TÜV SÜD Process Safety, EPSC learning sheets are meant to stimulate awareness and discussion on Process Safety. The last issue about incident at pressure leak test is available here. |
Event: Demi-journée d'information à Alfortville (Ile-de-France)
 | Our experts and partners welcome you in Alfortville on June 4th for an afternoon dedicated to the safety and the conformity of installations. Technical presentations (in French) will take place in a meeting room of the Cristal sur Seine. Join us as well to chat over a cocktail dinner after the presentations. |
Event: 15th Global Congress on Process Safety (US)
 | Our expert Coen van Driel took an active part in the 15th Global Congress on Process Safety on April 3rd with a presentation about “High performance in process safety – going beyond compliance.” Introducing a high-performance process safety culture in which people are actively managing the risks and aware of where they stand regarding best practices. A culture of continuous challenge of the current procedures and behaviours, trying to identify blind spots; in which competency development is not seen as a cost but as core to make the experience driven journey to high-performance culture a success ; in which balanced leadership creates an environment of proactively managed risks, ensured by keeping the balance, focus, rhythm, and discipline. The congress took place at the hotel Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Los Angeles (USA). You can read the article about the presentation here [ PDF 1116 kB ]. |
March 2019
Transport of material with potential explosive properties for further testing
 | During development in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry a wide range of chemical substances can be manufactured and processed. These substances can be very energetic and may confer explosive properties but are not formally classified and listed within the United Nations Dangerous Goods List. |
EPSC Learning Sheet: Sunken Roof in Storage Tank
| | Translated and distributed by TÜV SÜD Process Safety, EPSC learning sheets are meant to stimulate awareness and discussion on Process Safety. The last issue about Sunken Roof in Storage Tank is available here. |
Event: Information day in Lausanne (in French)
 | Our experts and partners welcome you in Lausanne on March 19th for an afternoon dedicated to the safety and the conformity of installations. Technical presentations (in French) will take place in a meeting room of the Olympic Museum. Join us as well to chat over a cocktail dinner after the presentations.. |
January 2019
Hazards when transferring flammable liquids
 | On November 20th, 2017, a solvent explosion occurred at a cosmetics manufacturer in the United States. The surveillance video shows the transferring of a flammable liquid (hexamethyl disiloxane, flash point -8°C) from a 200-liter drum into a RIBC. The liquid transfer was carried out without any local ventilation. At the filling opening of the RIBC a liquid pool has formed. When the employee wiped the surface of the RIBC with a cloth in the area of the filling opening, an explosion occurred. |
EPSC Learning Sheet: Steam Exposure
| | Translated and distributed by TÜV SÜD Process Safety, EPSC learning sheets are meant to stimulate awareness and discussion on Process Safety. The last issue about Steam Exposure is available here. |
Event: Journée d'information à Lausanne (in French)
| Nos experts et partenaires vous accueillent à Lausanne le 19 mars prochain, pour une demi-journée dédiée à la sécurité et à la conformité des installations. Des présentations techniques auront lieu dans une salle de réunion du Musée Olympique. Rejoingnez-nous également pour discuter autour d’un cocktail dînatoire après les présentations. |