ICPE hazard studies - Compensatory measures

In our first booklet, [G 4 210] "Étude de dangers des ICPE, identification des dangers", we presented an analysis of the hazards of existing or future installations on a site (intrinsic hazards) and of hazards external to the site but which could lead to the appearance of a hazard on the site. In a second article, [G 4 211] "Étude de dangers des ICPE : étude des scénarios", we analyzed and studied the possible impacts of accidental phenomena such as: a fire, an explosion of the UVCE (Unconfined Vapor Cloud Explosion) type, an explosion in the form of a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion) accompanied by a "fireball" if the liquefied gas is flammable, and the dispersion of toxic gases.

In this article, we look at possible compensatory measures, both internal and external. First and foremost, of course, you'll need to make sure that your installations comply with current regulations.

Three levels of compensatory measures can be defined:

• prevention: reducing the occurrence of a dangerous situation. Prevention consists in anticipating phenomena that could lead to or aggravate health problems. Prevention is the set of actions taken to avoid or reduce the number and severity of illnesses or accidents;

• protection: this covers all measures taken to protect people and property. Protective measures are designed to reduce the consequences of an accident (retention, containment, etc.). They ensure that the residual risk level of the hazardous installation is as low as possible;

• intervention: this takes place during the loss event. It involves implementing the necessary actions to deal with a disaster. The aim of response measures is to limit the spread of an incident, and hence its consequences.

Accidents can have very different causes: equipment failure, malicious acts, lack of process control, human error, external accidents, natural hazards (lightning, etc.)... As for the consequences, they can be numerous: deaths, injuries, material damage, production losses, air pollution, water pollution, soil contamination...

Despite...