Beyond PHA - Applying Bowties to Assuring the Integrity of Safety Critical Barriers

OSHA’s PSM regulation requires that Operators of facilities that handle Highly Hazardous Chemicals perform re-validation of a facility PHA every five years. However, how do Operators assess, in the intervening period, just how well their safety critical systems are functioning? This presentation will examine the application of the Structured What If (SWIFT) and Bowtie methodologies to identifying and assessing the performance status of safety critical barriers within an onshore manufacturing facility. The paper will illustrate the means through which the information and knowledge held by plant operations and maintenance staff regarding the current status of safety critical equipment can be captured, documented and disseminated throughout the organization and will provide ideas regarding ways in which the use of bowties for visualization of barrier status may be extended in the future.