implementation of analytical hierarchy process to prioritize health, safety and environment risks of hydrocarbon-rich sludge in south pars gas complex-first refinery, iran

Risk management embarrasses processes aimed at reducing the hazardous effects of anactivity through informed actions to predict and prevent unwanted events. oil sludgedisposal is an integral activity in gas refineries, which, if not implemented safely, can imposeenvironmental pollution, health risks and huge cost. the present applied, cross-sectional,analytical survey aimed to identify and prioritize health, safety and environment (hse)risks of hydrocarbon-rich sludge in south pars gas complex-first refinery, iran. thestatistical population included hse experts and managers of the studied refinery, selectedby purposeful sampling (n=31). by reviewing the literature and collecting availableinformation on the technical and process properties of waste management in the studiedrefinery, the relevant risks were identified using failure modes and effects analysis (fmea).delphi technique was used to qualitatively analyze risks and achieve group knowledge. theprobability of risk occurrence was determined by performing analytical hierarchy process(ahp) and pairwise comparisons using expert choice software. data analysis revealed 17environmental (n=7), health (n=4) and safety (n=6) risks. based on the results, the highestrisk priority was accumulation of radioactive materials deposited on the internal surfacesof pipes, valves, pumps, heat exchangers, tanks, boilers and other equipment and the risk ofthese materials being dangerous for human health, which were in the health risk category.the lowest priority was the risk of contamination of the lands of the gas refinery with burntoils, catalytic beds, hydrocarbon sludge, amine sludge, soda sludge and refinery sludge.