Risk Assessment from a Passive Defense Perspective- a Case Study at Shams Abad Industrial Estate, Iran

With the increasing development of knowledge and the emergence of new technologies in different industrial and production sectors, especially the growth of chemical industries and, of course, ascending trend in the chemical accidents incidence, it is necessary to implement risk management principles and increase safety to prevent accidents is of particular importance. This study was conducted to assess the risks in chemical storage tanks in order to achieve a risk management, improve safety, and reduce vulnerability from the perspective of passive defense in the industrial estate. In this descriptive-analytical study, the FMEA and William-Fine methods were used to identify and prioritize risk based on the risk type and cost control in industrial town with a passive defense perspective in chemical production and maintenance unit at Shams Abad industrial estate. Based on the study’s findings, 57 risks were identified, the first priority in the FMEA method was related to the chemicals tank temperature increase due to the lack of control and monitoring system, and tracking and warning devices with the calculated risk score of 720 and the last priority was related to liquid spills. The cause of natural factors was determined by a risk score of 90. A number of risks had the same risk scores. According to the William-Fine risk assessment method, immediate corrective actions also were needed and activities with these risks should be stopped until control measures were implemented. It was recommended that 9 risks should to be investigated as soon as possible. According to the priorities set and risks observed from the passive defense point of view, in order to control the identified risks, anticipation and provision of equipment and facilities were suggested to improve for controlling chemical accidents in industrial estates, development of maintenance instructions, installation and launching monitoring, tracking, announcing and controlling systems, establishing an automatic fire extinguishing system, providing and using appropriate personal protective equipment, observing the principles of passive defense in the correct location for the establishment of industrial estates according to the factors affecting passive defense, establishing a center for accident information in the country, strengthening inter-sectoral coordination in accident management, developing accident prevention and management programs, training employers, employees and educating locals, anticipating alternative routes for ambulance traffic and maneuvering in industrial estates.