PDIS 103 (1)
PDIS 103 (1)
1. Tracking Incident Frequency (FR): The Frequency Rate (FR) measures the number of work-related
injuries or accidents occurring per a specific number of hours worked (usually per million hours). It
helps track how often safety incidents occur, providing a clear indicator of the frequency of
workplace accidents and highlighting areas needing improvement.
2. Assessing the Impact of Incidents (SR): The Severity Rate (SR) measures the seriousness of the
injuries by calculating the number of lost workdays per a set number of hours worked. This helps
assess the impact of accidents, not just the frequency, and identifies the severity of injuries that
could affect worker health and factory productivity.
3. Identifying Safety Trends: Both FR and SR provide valuable data that allow safety managers to
identify trends over time. A rising frequency or severity rate indicates an increase in accidents or
serious injuries, signaling the need for corrective actions or policy revisions.
4. Benchmarking and Goal Setting: FR and SR are essential tools for benchmarking safety
performance against industry standards or previous performance. By setting targets to reduce these
rates, factories can motivate continuous improvement in their safety measures and overall safety
culture.
5. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Safety Programs: Monitoring changes in FR and SR before and
after implementing safety programs or interventions helps evaluate their effectiveness. A reduction
in these rates indicates that the safety measures are working, while an increase signals the need for
further investigation and improvement in safety practices.
2.(g) Write down the purpose of the off-site emergency plan?
Purpose of the Off-Site Emergency Plan:
1. Protection of Public Health and Safety: The primary purpose of the off-site emergency plan is to
protect the surrounding community and the public from the potential impacts of a hazardous event
at a facility. This includes reducing risks to health and safety from chemical spills, fires, explosions, or
other emergencies.
2. Coordination with External Agencies: The off-site emergency plan ensures coordination between
the facility and external agencies, such as local emergency services, government authorities, and
healthcare facilities. This facilitates a timely and effective response to mitigate the impact of the
emergency.
3. Effective Resource Allocation: The plan outlines how resources, such as personnel, equipment,
and materials, will be deployed during an emergency. It ensures that the right resources are
available and accessible for a quick and organized response to off-site emergencies.
4. Communication with Affected Communities: The off-site emergency plan establishes protocols for
communication with the local community. This includes providing timely and accurate information
regarding the emergency situation, evacuation procedures, and safety measures to protect public
welfare.
5. Compliance with Regulations: The off-site emergency plan is designed to meet legal and
regulatory requirements, ensuring that the facility complies with industry safety standards,
environmental regulations, and public safety mandates. It helps in minimizing legal liabilities and
demonstrates the company’s commitment to safety.
2.(h) What are the objectives, methodology and benefits of HAZOP study?
A HAZOP (Hazard and Operability Study) is a systematic risk assessment technique used to identify
potential hazards and operability issues in a process or system. It involves a structured, team-based
approach to analyze the design, operations, or procedures of systems to ensure safety and
efficiency.
Objectives of HAZOP Study:
1. Hazard Identification: The primary objective is to identify potential hazards that could lead to
accidents or unsafe conditions in the system or process.
2. Risk Evaluation: It helps assess the risks associated with identified hazards and their potential
consequences.
3. Improvement of Safety: HAZOP aims to improve the safety of processes by ensuring that safety
controls and mitigation measures are in place and functioning effectively.
4. Operational Efficiency: It also identifies operability issues that could affect the smooth functioning
of the system or process, leading to inefficiencies.
5. Compliance with Standards: Ensures compliance with regulatory standards by identifying potential
issues early in the design or operation phase.
1. Identification of Near Misses: The first step is to identify and report near misses. Employees
should be encouraged to report any incidents where an injury or damage almost occurred,
regardless of the lack of visible harm.
2. Gathering Information: Investigation involves collecting detailed information about the near miss,
such as the sequence of events, involved individuals, equipment, and environmental conditions. This
helps in understanding the cause and context of the event.
3. Analyzing Causes: The investigation should focus on identifying the root cause(s) of the near miss,
such as unsafe behaviors, faulty equipment, inadequate training, or lack of safety protocols. Tools
like root cause analysis can be used for this purpose.
4. Implementing Corrective Actions: Based on the investigation, corrective actions should be taken
to prevent a recurrence. This may involve revising safety procedures, providing additional training,
or repairing faulty equipment.
5. Learning and Improving Safety Culture: Investigating near misses helps organizations learn from
close calls. By addressing near misses, organizations can improve safety awareness and create a
proactive safety culture where potential risks are identified and mitigated before accidents happen.
2.(q) What is fault tree analysis? Explain with examples?
Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is a systematic, deductive method used to evaluate the reliability of a
system and identify the causes of potential failures. It involves constructing a tree-like diagram
where the top event (failure) is broken down into smaller contributing factors or faults. This analysis
helps in understanding how different failures can combine to lead to a system malfunction, and it's
often used in industries such as engineering, aerospace, and manufacturing to prevent accidents and
optimize performance.
Example:
Imagine you're analyzing a power supply system for a factory. The top event could be a power
outage. Fault Tree Analysis would break this down into several possible causes:
Failure of the main generator (root cause)
Failure of fuel supply
Mechanical failure in the generator
Electrical failure in the generator's components
Failure of the backup generator
Lack of maintenance
Faulty sensors
The FTA diagram helps identify all possible failure scenarios and prioritize actions to mitigate risks,
such as improving maintenance on the backup generator or ensuring a consistent fuel supply to
the main generator.
2.(r) What is a mock drill in an emergency plan?why it is carried out?
A mock drill in an emergency plan is a simulated practice exercise designed to test how effectively a
team or organization responds to a specific emergency situation. It involves acting out a scenario,
such as a fire, earthquake, or chemical spill, to ensure that everyone knows their roles, understands
procedures, and can execute the plan under pressure. These drills are typically done without prior
warning to mimic real emergency conditions.
Reasons for carrying out a mock drill:
1. Evaluate preparedness: Mock drills help assess whether the emergency response team and
individuals are ready to handle an actual emergency effectively.
2. Identify gaps: They reveal weaknesses or flaws in the emergency plan, allowing for improvements
before a real emergency occurs.
3. Ensure coordination: They improve communication and coordination among various departments,
teams, or agencies involved in the emergency response.
4. Familiarize participants: They provide an opportunity for people to become familiar with the
emergency procedures, evacuation routes, and safety measures.
5. Compliance: Many regulations and safety standards require regular mock drills to ensure that
organizations meet legal safety and preparedness obligations.
10Marks Answers:-
NO.(3). Explain briefly purpose of on-site emergency plan?
An on-site emergency plan aims to ensure the safety and protection of people, property, and the
environment during emergencies within a facility or workplace. It provides a structured framework
to manage potential hazards effectively and minimize harm. Key purposes include:
1. Identifying Risks: Recognizing potential emergencies such as fires, chemical spills, or equipment
failures.
2. Preparation: Establishing procedures and resources for handling emergencies efficiently.
3. Response Coordination: Defining roles and responsibilities for staff to ensure swift and organized
action.
4. Minimizing Impact: Reducing injuries, fatalities, and damage to property and the environment.
5. Legal Compliance: Meeting regulatory requirements and standards for workplace safety.
6. Training and Awareness: Ensuring employees are aware of emergency procedures and can act
appropriately.
7. Recovery: Facilitating quick restoration of normal operations post-emergency.
By preparing in advance, organizations can safeguard lives, reduce panic, and maintain operational
stability during crises.
NO.(4). Explain plant safety observation?
Plant Safety Observation is a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating potential safety
hazards in industrial or workplace settings. It involves systematically monitoring activities,
equipment, and the environment to ensure compliance with safety standards. The key aspects
include:
1. Identifying Hazards: Observing processes, machinery, and work areas to detect unsafe conditions
or practices.
2. Behavior Monitoring: Assessing employee behavior to ensure safe work practices are being
followed.
3. Compliance Check: Ensuring adherence to safety regulations, policies, and procedures.
4. Risk Reduction: Identifying potential risks and implementing corrective actions to prevent
accidents or injuries.
5. Documentation: Recording observations, findings, and corrective actions for reference and
compliance.
6. Promoting Safety Culture: Encouraging open communication about safety concerns and fostering
a culture of vigilance.
7. Training and Feedback: Using observations to provide training and constructive feedback to
employees.
8. Continuous Improvement: Regularly reviewing and updating safety measures based on
observations and findings.
Plant safety observations help organizations maintain a safe working environment, prevent
incidents, and comply with safety standards, ensuring the well-being of employees and the
efficiency of operations.
NO.(5). What is FTA & explain step of it?
Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is a systematic, deductive method used to identify the root causes of a
system failure (undesirable event) and assess the probability of its occurrence. It is widely used in
risk analysis, safety engineering, and reliability studies.
Steps in Fault Tree Analysis:
1. Define the Top Event:
Identify the main failure or undesired event (e.g., equipment breakdown, safety incident) that needs
to be analyzed.
2. Understand the System:
Gather detailed knowledge of the system, including components, processes, and interactions, to
ensure accurate analysis.
3. Construct the Fault Tree:
Begin with the top event and work downwards to identify its causes.
Use logical gates like AND/OR to represent relationships between causes and sub-causes.
4. Identify Basic Events:
Break down the fault tree into basic events or root causes that cannot be subdivided further.
5. Assign Probabilities:
Assign failure probabilities to each basic event using historical data, testing, or expert judgment.
6. Analyze the Fault Tree:
Quantitatively calculate the probability of the top event using the probabilities of basic events.
Perform qualitative analysis to identify critical paths or most significant contributors to failure.
7. Evaluate and Recommend Controls:
Based on the analysis, propose corrective measures or redesigns to mitigate risks and prevent
recurrence.
8. Validate the Results:
Review the fault tree model for accuracy and verify findings through testing or comparison with real-
world data.
Advantages:
Helps in understanding complex systems and failure mechanisms.
Aids in prioritizing risk controls.
Supports compliance with safety and reliability standards.
NO.(6). Why accident analysis is essential & what are the documents required for analysis for an
accident?
Why Accident Analysis is Essential
Accident analysis is crucial for understanding the causes of workplace incidents and preventing
future occurrences. Its importance includes:
1. Identifying Root Causes: Helps uncover the underlying reasons behind an accident, such as unsafe
acts, conditions, or system failures.
2. Preventing Recurrence: Provides insights to implement corrective actions and eliminate hazards.
3. Improving Safety Standards: Enhances workplace safety policies and procedures.
4. Minimizing Losses: Reduces the risk of injuries, fatalities, and property damage.
5. Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Ensures adherence to safety regulations and avoids legal
penalties.
6. Raising Awareness: Educates employees about potential risks and the importance of safe
practices.
7. Supporting Insurance Claims: Provides documentation required for claims and investigations.
8. Building a Safety Culture: Demonstrates management's commitment to employee well-being.
NO. (7). Why accident analysis is essential? How a safety officer analyses the cause of accidents?
Why Accident Analysis is Essential?
Accident analysis is crucial to identifying the root causes of incidents, preventing recurrence, and
improving workplace safety. The reasons for its importance include:
1. Preventing Recurrence:
Identifies the underlying causes of accidents to implement corrective actions and avoid similar
incidents in the future.
2. Ensuring Compliance:
Helps meet regulatory requirements by investigating and documenting incidents.
3. Improving Safety Standards:
Enhances safety policies and procedures based on the lessons learned from accidents.
4. Protecting Human Life:
Reduces risks to employees by addressing hazards and unsafe practices.
5. Reducing Costs:
Minimizes financial losses from property damage, compensation claims, and downtime.
6. Boosting Employee Morale:
Demonstrates management’s commitment to safety, fostering a culture of trust and responsibility.
Conclusion
Accident analysis is a vital process for improving workplace safety. A safety officer plays a pivotal
role in systematically investigating incidents, identifying root causes, and recommending corrective
measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
NO.(8). What is safety audit? Explain types of safety audit and need of it?
Safety Audit
A safety audit is a systematic evaluation of an organization’s safety policies, procedures, and
practices to ensure compliance with legal standards, identify potential hazards, and assess the
effectiveness of safety management systems. It aims to improve workplace safety, reduce risks, and
create a culture of proactive safety awareness.
Types of Safety Audit
1. Compliance Audit
Description: Focuses on checking adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.
Purpose: Ensures the organization complies with national and international safety standards.
Example: Auditing for compliance with OSHA or ISO 45001 standards.
2. Program Audit
Description: Reviews specific safety programs, such as emergency response or PPE usage.
Purpose: Evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of individual safety initiatives.
Example: Auditing a fire safety program.
3. Management System Audit
Description: Evaluates the overall safety management system, including policies, resources, and
accountability.
Purpose: Ensures safety is integrated into the organizational structure.
Example: Assessing the organization's risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
4. Behavioral Safety Audit
Description: Examines employee behaviors and practices in relation to safety protocols.
Purpose: Identifies unsafe practices and promotes a culture of safe behavior.
Example: Observing workers' compliance with lockout/tagout procedures.
5. Process Safety Audit
Description: Focuses on the safety of industrial processes and controls, particularly in hazardous
industries.
Purpose: Prevents incidents like chemical spills, explosions, or equipment failures.
Example: Evaluating the safety of a chemical plant’s processes.
Need for Safety Audit
1. Risk Identification and Prevention:
Detects potential hazards and unsafe practices to prevent accidents.
2. Compliance with Regulations:
Ensures adherence to legal and industry-specific safety standards.
3. Improvement of Safety Culture:
Encourages a proactive approach to safety by involving all levels of the organization.
4. Minimizing Losses:
Reduces financial losses from accidents, legal liabilities, and equipment damage.
5. Enhancing Operational Efficiency:
Improves processes by identifying inefficiencies and unsafe conditions.
6. Preparedness for Emergencies:
Evaluates the readiness and effectiveness of emergency response systems.
7. Stakeholder Confidence:
Demonstrates a commitment to safety, fostering trust among employees, clients, and regulatory
bodies.
Conclusion
Safety audits are a vital tool for maintaining a safe work environment, ensuring compliance, and
fostering continuous improvement in safety practices. Conducting regular audits helps organizations
protect their workforce, assets, and reputation.
NO.(9). What is plant safety inspection? Explain methods of inspection.?
Plant Safety Inspection
Plant safety inspection is a systematic process of examining a facility, its equipment, processes, and
practices to identify potential hazards, ensure compliance with safety standards, and prevent
accidents. The goal is to minimize risks to workers, equipment, and the environment by identifying
unsafe conditions and rectifying them promptly.
NO.(10). Write down the role of local authorities and management of the industry in MAH unit?
The role of local authorities and the management of industries in Major Accident Hazard (MAH) units
is critical to ensuring safety, preventing disasters, and protecting the environment and public health.
NO.(13). What are the objectives, methodology and benefits of HAZOP study and why HAZOP
study is essential?
HAZOP (Hazard and Operability Study) is a structured and systematic technique used to identify and
assess potential hazards and operability issues in processes, systems, or operations within industries.
It aims to identify risks early to prevent accidents, improve safety, and ensure the smooth operation
of systems.
4. Industry Standards: In many industries, HAZOP is considered an essential part of process safety
management and is often required for compliance with regulatory standards and certifications.
NO.(14). What is a MAH unit? Give the role of management in a MAH unit?
A MAH (Major Accident Hazard) unit refers to a facility or operation where there is a significant risk
of a major accident occurring due to the presence, use, or handling of hazardous substances. These
accidents can have serious consequences for people, the environment, and property. The term is
commonly used in industries such as chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and others that
deal with dangerous substances. Examples include oil refineries, chemical plants, and nuclear power
plants.
The role of management in a MAH unit is crucial to ensuring safety, minimizing risks, and managing
any potential emergencies. Their responsibilities include the following:
1. Risk Assessment and Hazard Identification: Management must ensure that a thorough risk
assessment is conducted to identify potential hazards and vulnerabilities associated with the
materials and processes in the unit. This involves identifying the types of hazardous substances, the
likelihood of accidents, and the potential impact of these accidents on people and the environment.
2. Safety Culture and Training: Establishing a safety culture is essential in a MAH unit. Management
must promote a workplace where safety is prioritized, and employees are regularly trained in safety
protocols, emergency response plans, and the proper handling of hazardous materials. This includes
ongoing training programs and drills to ensure preparedness in case of an emergency.
3. Compliance with Regulations: Management is responsible for ensuring that the MAH unit
complies with relevant health, safety, and environmental regulations. This includes adhering to
national and international standards such as those set by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health
Administration), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), or the Seveso Directive (in Europe).
5. Maintenance and Inspection: Ensuring the proper maintenance of equipment, infrastructure, and
safety systems is a key responsibility of management. Regular inspections, preventive maintenance,
and ensuring the safety of storage tanks, pipelines, and machinery are vital to prevent accidents.
6. Health, Safety, and Environmental Impact: Management must take steps to minimize the health
risks to employees and surrounding communities. This includes ensuring that proper ventilation,
protective equipment, and safety barriers are in place. They must also manage the environmental
impact of the facility by implementing sustainable practices and controlling emissions.
7. Incident Investigation and Reporting: In the event of an accident or near-miss, management is
responsible for ensuring that a thorough investigation is conducted to determine the root cause. The
findings must be reported to relevant authorities and corrective actions should be taken to prevent
recurrence.
8. Safety Audits and Performance Monitoring: Regular safety audits and performance reviews help
management to assess the effectiveness of safety systems and processes. Management should
ensure that any deficiencies identified are addressed promptly.
9. Resource Allocation: Management must ensure that adequate resources (financial, human, and
technological) are allocated to maintain the safety and operation of the MAH unit. This includes
investment in new safety technologies, training programs, and hiring skilled personnel.
10. Communication and Collaboration: Management plays a key role in fostering open
communication and collaboration between all stakeholders, including employees, safety officers,
regulatory bodies, and the local community. Transparency in operations and safety performance is
essential in building trust and ensuring a safe working environment.
---THE END---