Chemitics follows industry leading protocols to identify and manage reactive hazards in chemical and refining processes. An RHA may be required as a result of a continuous review cycle, an outcome of a PHA, as part of an MOC, or due to a capital project. An MOC is a frequent trigger of RHAs due to process changes such as operating temperature or pressure, chemical concentrations, catalysts, or additives.

The Reactive Hazard Analysis (RHA) process achieves RAGAGEP through a five-stage approach:

1.      Collect Process Information: Understand the details of the process and conditions and all chemical components that might be present as part of feed streams, products, impurities, catalysts, or other conditions.

2.      Reactive Chemistry: An expert review of the chemical reactivity including desired and potential side reactions. Where literature or historical data is incomplete or does not coincide with particular conditions or impurities, reactive calorimetry testing may be executed.

3.      Scenario Identification: Similar to identifying overpressure scenarios during a pressure-relief system analysis, our experts work with client engineers to develop and document situations that may challenge equipment design specification limits.

4.      Scenario Assessment: The consequence of all identified scenarios is assessed to determine which require prevention or mitigation.

5.      Development of Safeguards to Manage Risk: Using a Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) our experts work with our clients to determine if ALARP criteria are met. Where existing safeguards may not meet the ALARP criteria, mitigation techniques are recommended to close the gap and demonstrate ALARP.