Jérôme Tixier

Review of 62 risk analysis methodologies of industrial plants

For about 10 years, many methodologies have been developed to undertake a risk analysis on an industrial plant. In this paper, 62 methodologies have been identified, these are separated into three different phases (identification, evaluation and hierarchisation). In order to understand their running, it seems necessary to examine the input data, methods used, obtained output data and to rank them in several classes. First, all the input data are grouped together into seven classes (plan or diagram, process and reaction, products, probability and frequency, policy, environment, text, and historical knowledge). Then, the methods are ranked in six classes based on the combination of four usual criteria (qualitative, quantitative, deterministic and probabilistic). And finally, the output data are classified into four classes (management, list, probabilistic and Merarchisation). This classification permits the appraisal of risk analysis methodologies. With the intention of understanding the running of these methodologies, the connections between the three defined previously criteria (determinist, probabilistic and determinist and probabilistic) are brought to the fore. Then the paper deals with the application fields and the main limitations of these methodologies. So the hierarchisation phase is discussed and the type of scale used. This paper highlights the difficulties in taking into account all risks for an industrial plant and suggests that there is not only one general method to deal with the problems of industrial risks.

OSIRIS: software for the consequence evaluation of transportation of dangerous goods accidents

Abstract Outil de SImulation des RISques (OSIRIS) is a hazard simulation tool for the training of firemen or manufacturers during interventions with dangerous raw material transportation. This software allows one to obtain a quick answer regarding areas touched by the accident and to provide assistance for judicious decision taking as well as to define the means to implement and the time of reaction to realise an efficient intervention. OSIRIS simulates different types of accident like calculation of leak flow, calculation of evaporation flow, simulation of toxic gas dispersion, confining, simulation of explosions, simulation of fires. Three types of result are obtained: numerical values, graphs of evolution according to distance, effect distances drawn on a map of the accident site. In the second part of the publication, a simulation of a toxic gas dispersion accident is realised. OSIRIS is a decision-taking help tool which allows a simple use and a reduced calculation time, and that is able to simulate many cases of technological accidents.

Development of a spatial risk assessment tool for the transportation of hydrocarbons

The transportation of dangerous goods is a complex issue involving various potential consequences for a wide range of high-stake elements. Most particularly, hydrocarbon transportation requires the carrying out of a global study in order to assess the risks involved. The aim of this study is to develop a prediction code for analyzing different possible hydrocarbon supply routes in order to determine whether modifying the flow of hydrocarbon transportation significantly increases the risk (for people, infrastructure and the environment). On the one hand, this paper details the methodology proposed for assessing risk levels using hazard scenarios and the vulnerability of high-stake elements. On the other hand, it presents the modeling tool developed (CARTENJEUX), based on an existing geographical information system (MapInfo), through a case study (Paris, France). Several maps (severity of accident, vulnerability and risk levels) generated using CARTENJEUX are presented in order to illustrate how stakeholders can determine preferential routes at regional scale. Highlights? We examine the ins and outs of Dangerous Goods Transportation. ? We study existing risk assessment methods, their limits and the ways of improvement. ? A spatial risk assessment tool for the transportation of hydrocarbons is proposed. ? Some cases of study are used in order to create vulnerability maps of high-stake elements.

Design of a Semi-Virtual Training Environment (Serious Game) for Decision-Makers Facing up a Major Crisis

When major crises occur, organizations face critical concerns, such as stress, uncertainties, need of quick anticipation and better communication. The need of experience implies a regular training of those involved. Serious games and environmental computer-based simulations are useful training tools for people who have to manage a crisis. They are relevant for educational purposes, for the acquisition of technical and non-technical skills, of automatic reflexes, and of ways of thinking. The suitability of the teaching strategy in link with the profile of participants and the moderation by the trainers are difficult. The present work aims at solving these difficulties by the development of a distributed multitier architecture, computer-assisted training, a multiagent system, and requirements for a relevant physical infrastructure. Our methodology integrates four steps: exercise modeling, scenario modeling, scenario simulation with a multiagent system, debriefing approach and learning objectives assessment. Our methodological recommendations have been applied in order to define a real semi-virtual training environment. Limits and prospects are already identified for further improvements.

Developing an Evade (evaluation and Debriefing) Method to Assess Trainees During Crisis Management Training for Major Hazards and Feedback Them

Lessons learnt from past accidents emphasize that major crisis managements limitations are mainly characterised by collective failures (organizational, behavioural and cognitive), absence and/or maladaptive training of actors (Guarnieri et al., 2015; Heiderich, 2010; Lagadec, 2012). Indeed, the training exercises have limitations such as the assessment: it focuses on the technical skills of the group, not on non-technical skills mobilized, and it is not conducted in real time. The presentation of the results during the debriefing is also incomplete (Tena-Chollet, 2012). The present work aims to present our method to assess trainees during crisis management training and feedback them, the EVADE (EVAluation and Debriefing) method. This method required the upstream creation of a typology of training objectives to be integrated into training and the identification of technical and non-technical skills of a crisis cell. The approach is based on behavioural markers which are used to identify mobilized skills of a group during exercise. The assessment tool is presented, through its construction and its functioning, and it is tested with trainees in crisis management exercises. Various examples of the results of restitution are then proposed in this paper.