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Proposal for a new method for analyzing the domino effect in an oil refinery and its impact on the environment

Meriem Smaiah (Health and Safety Institute, LRPI Laboratory University of Mostepha Benblouaid – Batna 2, Batna, Algeria)
Mebarek Djebabra (Health and Safety Institute, LRPI Laboratory University of Mostepha Benblouaid – Batna 2, Batna, Algeria)
Leila Boubaker (Health and Safety Institute, LRPI Laboratory University of Mostepha Benblouaid – Batna 2, Batna, Algeria)

Management of Environmental Quality

ISSN: 1477-7835

Article publication date: 10 May 2019

Issue publication date: 9 July 2019

121

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new managerial method to integrate the environmental dimension in the domino effects (DEs) analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed method is a three-step approach: identification of primary hazards in the form of potential events causing the DE, a mixed quantification (deterministic and probabilistic) of the risk of the DEs with a view to its control and capitalizing the results from the BLEVESOFT software as well as those relating to the probability of occurrence of the DEs in the form of a prioritized action plan dedicated to surrounding environments (proximity territory).

Findings

The primary hazards are technologically manageable at the studied system but are unpredictable if triggered at the environmental subsystem because they are difficult to be managed and often cause panic, which is a form of a very catastrophic DE.

Research limitations/implications

The research could affect members of the engineering and construction industry, and can be applied in several domains since it studies the DE phenomenon. which is a common problem especially in industrials plants.

Practical implications

The proposal method is applied in an industrial terminal in Algeria.

Originality/value

This paper presents an exploratory study of using a new managerial method that aims to combine the potentialities of geomatic sciences that allow the spatial representation of nearby territories to assess the severity of DEs through a deterministic approach, and the modeling of DEs as well as their analysis by a probabilistic approach.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their sincere appreciation for many constructive and helpful comments and suggestions offered by the reviewers.

Citation

Smaiah, M., Djebabra, M. and Boubaker, L. (2019), "Proposal for a new method for analyzing the domino effect in an oil refinery and its impact on the environment", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 30 No. 5, pp. 910-924. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-09-2018-0167

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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