Modeling safety barriers and risk analysis in cement firing systems: A BORA-based approach incorporating risk influencing factors

The accidental release of hot materials is one of the most widely experienced and potentially fatal problems in cement plants. It often results in catastrophic consequences for health, safety, and the environment. This paper aims to present a systematic framework for investigating what factors contribute to the release of hot materials in cement firing systems and the associated risks. It considers not only technical aspects but also human and organizational factors. Inspections and interviews with operators have allowed us to pinpoint potential initiating events that could lead to spillage. Various barrier systems are in place to prevent these initiating events from escalating into accidents. These barrier systems are depicted through Barrier Block Diagrams as Independent Protection Layers (IPLs). Fault Tree Analysis has been used to model the failure of IPLs. Moreover, Risk Influencing Factors (RIFs) affecting the performance of IPLs are identified, assigned scores, and weighted accordingly. These RIFs will be used to establish specific risk estimates for the pyro-processing unit. The proposed approach examines the Barrier and Operational Risk Analysis (BORA) technique and attempts to extend its usefulness beyond the oil and gas industry by applying it to cement plants. Application to a real case study demonstrated a significant contribution in predicting and preventing the leakage of hot materials. Therefore, it is particularly well suited for assessing risk reduction measures and resilience.