NEW SAFETY THINKING APPLICABLE TO EM SYNTHESIS AND MANUFACTURE

摘要

The occurrence of major accidents in the chemical process industry has over the years stimulated world wide safety thinking. This resulted also rather recently in interesting new concepts in the approach to design and the control of operation of processes with hazardous materials. A practical concept applicable in many situations is the layer of protection analysis. This kind of top down barrier thinking encompasses both technical and organisational measures and is very suited for risk control both in the laboratory and in the case of industrial installations. It involves the user and his management and can optimise cost-benefit. It can be used in new design, but also for installations that have been operated already for years. Thinking starts of course with the question what are the risks and can these be prevented. The inherent safer approach offers a number of check list items which can be checked off. Improvements can semi-quantitatively be measured by indexing. Of course with energetic materials inherent safer working has its limitations, but sometimes by selecting different solvents, other installation lay-out etc. considerable improvements can be made. Subsequently independent layers of protection are defined. Independence is not easy to realise, but is a crucial condition. In a second part specific hazards of energetic materials are highlighted .This is covering the initiation and explosion severity of energetic materials themselves, the process runaway risk when manufacturing them and the health hazards solvents may present.