title: Risk informed resource allocation policy: safety can save costs.
abstract: During economic doldrums, decision making on investments for safety is even more difficult than it already is when funds are abundant. This paper attempts to offer some guidance. After stating the present challenge to prevention of losses in the process industries, the systematic approach of quantified risk assessment is briefly reviewed and improvements in the methodology are mentioned. In addition, attention is given to the use of a risk matrix to survey a plant and to derive a plan of action. Subsequently, the reduction of risk is reviewed. Measures for prevention, protection, and mitigation are discussed. The organization of safety has become at least as important as technical safety of equipment and standards. It is reflected in the introduction of a safety management system. Furthermore, the design process in a pro-active approach is described and the concept of inherent safety is briefly addressed. The concept of Layer of Protection Analysis is explained and also the reason why it is relevant to provide a cost-benefit analysis. Finally, after comments regarding the cost of accidents, the basics of costing and profitability are summarized and a way is suggested to apply this approach to risk-reducing measures. An example is provided on how a selection can be made from a number of alternatives.
authors.affiliation: TNO, P.O. Box 6006, 2600 JA Delft, Netherlands. veldhoen@do.tno.nl
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Pasman
mesh_terms: D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004467:Economics; D006801:Humans; D011640:Public Policy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012449:Safety; D017751:Safety Management / Q000191:economics*