Selection, validation and prioritization of leading indicators of process safety performance: A case study on hydrocarbon liquid storage tanks

Faeze Torbatian  Mashhadi; Omran  Ahmadi

doi:10.18502/jhsw.v15i2.21399

Faeze Torbatian Mashhadi Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Omran Ahmadi Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jhsw.v15i2.21399

Keywords: Leading indicator, Validity, Prioritization, Fuzzy logic

Abstract

Introduction: Measuring and monitoring the process safety management system is essential to reduce therisk of accidents in process industries. For this purpose, lagging and leading process safety performanceindicators are utilized. The aim of the present study is to select, validate and prioritize the leading indicatorsof process safety performance.

Material and Methods: First, the leading indicators associated with risk factors affecting hydrocarbonliquid tanks were identified and selected based on the guidelines provided by the CCPS, HSE UK, OGP, andrelevant scholarly articles. After choosing the appropriate indicators, the content validity of the indicatorswas studied. In the next step, indicators with acceptable content validity were studied by experts in termsof applicability and importance using fuzzy weighting.

Results: Out of 18 performance indicators related to risk factors influencing the performance of operatingpersonnel, 3 indicators were eliminated due to content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI)scores below acceptable levels. The remaining 15 indicators advanced to the next stage of the study. All 4indicators related to the performance of maintenance personnel achieved acceptable CVR and CVI scoresand were also included in the next stage. Of the 13 indicators defined for equipment performance, 3were excluded due to low CVR or CVI scores, and 10 progressed to the subsequent phase. For firefighters,9 indicators were identified, of which 2 were eliminated due to low CVR or CVI, and 7 advanced to thenext stage. In this stage, all 36 indicators achieved acceptable applicability scores and were subsequentlyweighted.

Conclusion: The 36 final indicators presented in this study can be used to measure process safetyperformance in the oil industry. Although the present study was a case study on liquid hydrocarbontanks, most of the indicators presented can be applied to other sectors of the oil industry. In addition, theweights specified for each of these indicators can be used to prioritize the indicators