Prevention Program Element Development
Dispersion Modeling and Offsite Consequence Analysis (OCA)
Risk Management Professionals has extensive experience providing accurate and high-quality dispersion modeling services. Whether for design purposes or compliance with state/federal regulations, Risk Management Professionals has provided dispersion modeling for numerous industries utilizing the most recent software to provide accurate modeling for a wide variety of release scenarios. RMP specifically employs EPA-approved software programs (e.g., RMP*Comp, ALOHA, SCREEN3, & SLAB) for modeling.
Risk Management Professionals can tailor the dispersion modeling to comply with regulatory requirements or design / planning needs. Whether evaluating worst-case or alternative release scenarios, the facility’s modeling will be compliant and accurate. As necessary, Risk Management Professionals provides support for facilities during public and regulatory meetings to assist in explanation of the dispersion modeling.
Operating Procedures Development
The development and use of Operating Procedures is an integral element of a successful safety management system, as it provides individuals with the information to perform a job safely and properly, captures operational best practices, and facilitates consistency in the operating environment. The development of Operating Procedures may also include protocols, instructions, checklists, safe work practices, etc. Risk Management Professionals engineers work closely with knowledgeable operating staff to develop procedures that accurately reflect the task requirements and meets applicable regulatory requirements.
Operating Procedures are written in a concise, step-by-step, easy-to-read format that is straightforward and unambiguous. Terminology is consistent with operations and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs); however, jargon is avoided to maintain clarity. Risk Management Professionals will deliver procedures that meet the individual needs of each facility.
Risk Management Professionals conducts operator interviews, as well as operator “shadowing” at the facility to document the step-by-step procedures. Additionally, photographs are utilized as part of the shadowing process, and relevant critical photographs are included in the Operating Procedures to provide clarity and operational references. Operating limits for normal operations are included in each procedures as a best practice and essential element to effective communication on avoiding deviations when using the procedures.
To ensure the Operating Procedures include necessary safety and health precautions, the following are defined within the Operating Procedures:
- Properties and hazards of the chemicals used in the process
- Precautions to prevent exposure (e.g., engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment)
- Response in case of physical/airborne exposure
Management of Change (MOC)
Management of Change (MOC) provides a path forward for facilities contemplating and executing changes (excluding “replacement in kind”) to a process. The MOC program is comprised of written procedures that govern how the proposed changes will be managed by the facility. The MOC process also requires that any employees involved in operating a process, including contract and maintenance personnel whose job tasks may be affected by the change, are made aware of the change and trained accordingly, prior to the restarting the process.
Regulatory Program Training
Risk Management Professionals provides regulatory program training to a variety of facilities and various experience levels of audiences. Regulatory training may be provided as an all-inclusive package (preparation of materials, presentation, and recordkeeping) to very minimal (providing the materials for on-site personnel to conduct training sessions). Training may also be provided remotely and/or pre-recorded for future use.
P&ID Update and Development
Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&ID’s) are not only a requirement of the prevention programs but are also valuable tools that enable the safe operation and maintenance of any system. P&ID’s also expedite employee familiarization and training. Risk Management Professionals’ capabilities include tracing systems and creating Visio drawings for various types of systems. Electronic files are provided (PDF and modifiable versions) at the completion of the project. ACAD needs are contracted to appropriate vendors based on the location and type of facility.
Incident Investigation
Risk Management Professionals’ capabilities include providing third-party incident investigation support. Whether it’s reviewing existing documentation for quality and completeness or conducting and leading a full investigation, RMP has engineers qualified and capable of meeting the needs of our clients.
Emergency Preparedness & Response Training
The purpose of emergency preparedness training is to educate personnel about potential hazards and the associated effects and to practice responding to emergency situations. In parallel with the development of Emergency Response/Action/Operations Plans, Risk Management Professionals can provide support training and implementing the plans. Risk Management Professionals has direct experience developing emergency preparedness training programs and assisting clients in the development of emergency drill plans and tabletop exercises, in planning response scenarios, facilitating the drills, and evaluating the outcome of the drills.
To implement an Emergency Response/Action/Operations Plan, the following training options are available.
- General Plan familiarization
- ERP Familiarization and ICS/SEMS/NIMS Training (including FEMA Certification courses)
- Tabletop Exercise
- Functional Exercise
- Full Scale Multi-Agency Exercise
Hazardous Materials Inventory and Business Emergency Plans
In order to protect the safety and health of the community and facility personnel, along with the environment, facilities handling, storing, or utilizing hazardous materials are required to submit Hazardous Material Inventory and Business Emergency Plan (HMI/BEP) Disclosures pursuant to Health and Safety Code 25503.3. The requirement for an HMI/BEP Disclosure depends on the hazardous material inventory stored, handled, or utilized onsite and for California facilities, includes hazardous materials and waste in quantities equal to or greater than 55 gallons, 500 pounds, or 200 cubic feet of gas at standard temperature and pressure.
The HMI’s provide information on the location, amounts, and storage of hazardous materials. While the BEP focuses on facilities’ emergency response procedures, including procedures for personnel response, training of employees, evacuation and hazardous material location maps, safety systems and identification of alarms. This information assists emergency responders in planning for and handling emergency events involving hazardous materials.
The key to ensuring a complete HMI/BEP Disclosure is to ensure all hazardous materials onsite are inventoried and verified. Risk Management Professionals can work with facility personnel to identify and locate all hazardous materials onsite, and to create a map with the locations of hazardous materials on-site. In addition, emergency response procedures are evaluated for adequacy and documented appropriately.