METHODOLOGY FOR ELECTROSTATIC HAZARD RISK ASSESSMENT STUDY
1. Proposed Methodology
1.1. Introduction
An electrostatic discharge is one of the most crucial ignition sources for combustible substances and flammable liquid. In order to carry out correct safety measures to prevent from ignition, it is necessary to carry out correct assessment and understanding of electrostatic charge. The complete prevention of static charge separation is inherently difficult, mainly due to the charge's origin located at the interface of materials. A static electric charge builds up when the rate at which charges separate surpasses the rate at which charges recombine.
Separation of electric charge alone may not present a fire or explosion hazard. The real risk arises when there is a discharge or sudden recombination of the separated charges, leading to a potential ignition hazard. In static electric phenomena, charge is typically separated by a resistive barrier, such as an air gap or insulation between conductors, or by the insulating property of the materials being handled or processed. Sparks often occur between conductors and insulators. The human body is a proficient electrical conductor and has been implicated in numerous instances of static electric discharge. Sparks from ungrounded charged conductors, including the human body, are the primary cause of most fires and explosions ignited by static electricity.
On-site evaluation or survey of the process should be conducted to identify any ungrounded conductive objects, including personnel, and any materials that could function as electrical insulators, potentially interfering with proper bonding and grounding. The survey should pinpoint locations that might pose a static electricity hazard, even in the absence of evident charge accumulation at the time of the evaluation.
1.2. Methodology
Electrostatic Hazard Risk Assessment Steps
The following sequence of activities is followed during the Electrostatic Hazard Risk Assessment.
Document Collection
Sharing the list of documents required for the study. Before initiating any study, it is crucial to provide stakeholders with a comprehensive list of documents necessary for the study. This ensures that all relevant information is collected and analyzed effectively.
Review of Documents
Review of the documents required. Following the collection of the documents, a careful examination is necessary to evaluate their completeness, accuracy, and relevancy. This stage ensures that the study is based on accurate and thorough data by assisting in the identification of any information gaps or inconsistencies.
Preparation for the site visit.
Preparing for a site visit involves planning logistics, coordinating with relevant personnel, and ensuring all necessary tools required for the study are ready. This step is critical for studies that require on-site observations or data collection. Adequate preparation ensures a smooth and efficient visit.
Collection of data at site.
The objective is to collect context-specific data to supplement the knowledge received from documents.
Preparation of Product & Equipment Wise Table
Converting the data into suitable form i.e., Product wise Table and Identifying the hazardous chemical for each step. Please Refer Appendix A Table 2.
Preparing Equipment wise table and identifying the hazardous chemical for each equipment. Please Refer Appendix A Table 3.
Defining Worst-Case Scenario
Define the worst-case scenario for each equipment considering the multiproduct manufacturing facility.
Recommendations
After Identifying the hazardous chemical for each equipment, statutory requirements for handling of flammable gases, liquids or combustible powders as per the guidelines are recommended to control a risk of electrostatic ignition.
Legal requirement: Order of precedence
NFPA-77
IEC TS 60079-32-1
Other International Standards
Figure 1:Electrostatic Hazard- Methodology Flow sheet
1.3. Guideline Used
NFPA-77
IEC TS 60079-32-1
Other International Standards
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