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2019
OUAZRAOUI N, NAIT-SAID R. An alternative approach to safety integrity level determination: results from a case study, . International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management [Internet]. 2019;2019 (36(10):) :1784-1803. Publisher's VersionAbstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to validate a fuzzy risk graph model through a case study results carried out on a safety instrumented system (SIS).

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model is based on an inference fuzzy system and deals with uncertainty data used as inputs of the conventional risk graph method. The coherence and redundancy of the developed fuzzy rules base are first verified in the case study. A new fuzzy model is suggested for a multi-criteria characterization of the avoidance possibility parameter. The fuzzy safety integrity level (SIL) is determined for two potential accident scenarios.

Findings

The applicability of the proposed fuzzy model on SIS shows the importance and pertinence of the proposed fuzzy model as decision-making tools in preventing industrial hazards while taking into consideration uncertain aspects of the data used on the conventional risk graph method. The obtained results show that the use of continuous fuzzy scales solves the problem of interpreting results and provides a more flexible structure to combine risk graph parameters. Therefore, a decision is taken on the basis of precise integrity level values and protective actions in the real world are suggested.

Originality/value

Fuzzy logic-based safety integrity assessment allows assessment of the SIL in a more realistic way by using the notion of the linguistic variable for representing information that is qualitative and imprecise and, therefore, ensures better decision making on risk prevention.

HADEF H, DJEBABRA M, SEDRAT L, TAGHLABET M. Contribution to the evaluation of safety barriers performance. World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development [Internet]. 2019;2019 (16(1) :56-68. Publisher's VersionAbstract

Purpose

The risk control is an unavoidable step in the risk management process. It is materialized by concrete actions of risks reduction in order to decrease their likelihood and/or their severity and also to preserve the environment. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The main goal of the proposed methodology is to define the safety barriers (SB) that can be realized and their contribution to reduce major accidents scenarios that may occur in high-risk establishments.

Findings

In the proposed methodology, the authors present a combination of methods to prove the effectiveness of SB in an industrial installation.

Practical implications

The proposed methodology is a valuable help to industrialists to secure their industrial activities and preserve the environment at the same time.

Originality/value

The retained methods are often used separately for audit purposes or risk assessments of high-risk industrial facilities. In this paper, three methods have been selected and articulated in an approach for a better evaluation of risk control level.

HADEF H, DJBABRA M. Proposal method for the classification of industrial accident scenarios based on the improved principal components analysis (improved PCA). Prod. Eng. Res. Devel [Internet]. 2019;2019 (13) :53–60. Publisher's VersionAbstract
Using a risk matrix for Risk mapping constitutes the basis of risk management strategy. It aims to classify the identified risks with regards to their management and control. This risk classification, which is based on the frequency and the severity dimensions, is often carried out according to a procedure founded on experts’ judgments. In order to overcome the subjectivity bias of this classification, this paper presents the contribution of the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) method: an exploratory method for graphing risks based on factors that allow a better visualized classification of scenarios accidents. Still, the commonly encountered problem in the data classified by the PCA method resides in the main factors of classification; we judged useful to frame these letters by an algebraic formulation to make an improvement of this classification possible. The obtained results show that the suggested method is a promising alternative to solve the recurring problems of risk matrices, notably in accident scenarios’ classification.
SMAIAH M, DJBABRA M, BOUBAKER L. Proposal for a new method for analyzing the domino effect in an oil refinery and its impact on the environment. Management of Environmental Quality [Internet]. 2019;2019 (30(5) :910-924. Publisher's VersionAbstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new managerial method to integrate the environmental dimension in the domino effects (DEs) analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed method is a three-step approach: identification of primary hazards in the form of potential events causing the DE, a mixed quantification (deterministic and probabilistic) of the risk of the DEs with a view to its control and capitalizing the results from the BLEVESOFT software as well as those relating to the probability of occurrence of the DEs in the form of a prioritized action plan dedicated to surrounding environments (proximity territory).

Findings

The primary hazards are technologically manageable at the studied system but are unpredictable if triggered at the environmental subsystem because they are difficult to be managed and often cause panic, which is a form of a very catastrophic DE.

Research limitations/implications

The research could affect members of the engineering and construction industry, and can be applied in several domains since it studies the DE phenomenon. which is a common problem especially in industrials plants.

Practical implications

The proposal method is applied in an industrial terminal in Algeria.

Originality/value

This paper presents an exploratory study of using a new managerial method that aims to combine the potentialities of geomatic sciences that allow the spatial representation of nearby territories to assess the severity of DEs through a deterministic approach, and the modeling of DEs as well as their analysis by a probabilistic approach.

BOUGHABA A, ABERKANE S, FOURAR Y, DJBABRA M. Study of safety culture in healthcare institutions: case of an Algerian hospital. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance [Internet]. 2019;2019 (32(7) :1081-1097. Publisher's VersionAbstract

Purpose

For many years, the concept of safety culture has attracted researchers from all over the world, and more particularly in the area of healthcare services. The purpose of this paper is to measure safety culture dimensions in order to improve and promote healthcare in Algeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The used approach consists of getting a better understanding of healthcare safety culture (HSC) by measuring the perception of healthcare professionals in order to guide promotion actions. For this, the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture questionnaire was used in a pilot hospital setting where it was distributed on a number of 114 health professionals chosen by stratified random sampling.

Findings

The results showed that the identified priority areas for HSC improvement help in establishing a trust culture and a non-punitive environment based on the system and not on the individual.

Originality/value

Safety is recognized as a key aspect of service quality, thus measuring the HSC can help establish an improvement plan. In Algerian health facilities, this study is considered the first to examine perceptions in this particular area. The current results provide a baseline of strengths and opportunities for healthcare safety improvement, allowing the managers of this type of facilities to take steps that are more effective.

SAADI S, DJEBABRA M, ROUDIES O, BOULAGOUAS W. Contribution of the three-dimensional model to the reliability allocation of multiphase systems", , 2019, :. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management [Internet]. 2019;2019 (36(7) :1038-1052. Publisher's VersionAbstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to deal with the allocation requirements of the dependability of the multiphase systems.

Design/methodology/approach

It consists of a proposal for a combined methodology based on the simultaneous use of decomposition systems and reliability allocation method.

Findings

In the developed methodology, the authors use the principles of risk assessment and propose a new formulation of weight allowance with reference to the structural‒functional dependence.

Practical implications

The suggested methodology provides invaluable help to implementation process analysis.

Originality/value

The adopted allocation approach is based on the use of a three-dimensional model: temporal, structural and functional decomposition of systems.

HADEF H, DJEBABRA M. PCA-I and AHP Methods: Unavoidable Arguments in Accident Scenario Classification. J Fail. Anal. and Preven [Internet]. 2019;2019 (19) :496–503. Publisher's VersionAbstract
Risk mapping is the foundation of the risk prevention strategy. It allows for the understanding of all factors that may affect the activities. It is a collective decision based on negotiation between the actors. Argument-based negotiation accelerates the negotiation process and converges it toward a final and common decision. It is in this context that this paper aims to illustrate the contribution of the improved PCA and AHP tools, considered as arguments, to the classification of major accident risks.
2018
SELLAMI I, NAIT-SAID R, CHETEHOUNA K, IZARRA C, Zidani F. Quantitative consequence analysis using Sedov-Taylor blast wave model. Part II: Case study in an Algerian gas industry. Process Safety and Environmental Protection [Internet]. 2018;2018 (116(5) :771-779. Publisher's VersionAbstract

In the oil and gas industry, it is common to use gas liquefaction that allows storage and transport of large quantities of LNG and LPG. One of the main disadvantages of this storage mode is the BLEVE risk, which remains a major concern for risk decision-makers. In order to prevent the occurrence of this risk and reduce its impact, risk analysts often use quantitative risk analysis (QRA), which is based on the understanding and quantification of the accidental phenomena and their consequences (overpressure, thermal radiation, toxicity dose). QRA is a rigorous and advanced approach that requires reliable data in order to obtain a good estimate and control of risks. The main objective of this paper (Part II) is to integrate the Sedov-Taylor model developed in Part I into the QRA approach in order to evaluate BLEVE blast effect, and illustrate it with a case study on a pressurized LPG accumulator located in the MPP3-plant of SONATRACH company in the Hassi R'Mel gas field (the largest gas field in Algeria). A parametric analysis of the fuel mass, temperature at failure and rupture pressure is carried out to study their influence on the evolution of BLEVE overpressure. In addition, the evaluation of BLEVE thermal effect is performed in order to better realize an exhaustive QRA. Through this application, the results show the great relevance of the Sedov-Taylor model in the consequence analysis and also in the development of process safety recommendations.

SELLAMI I, NAIT-SAID R, IZARRA C, CHETEHOUNA K, Zidani F. Quantitative consequence analysis using Sedov-Taylor blast wave model. Part I: Model description and validation. Process Safety and Environmental Protection [Internet]. 2018;2018 (116(5) :763-770. Publisher's Version
SELLAMI I, MANESCAU B, CHETEHOUNA K, IZARRA C, NAIT-SAID R, Zidani F. BLEVE fireball modeling using Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) in an Algerian gas industry. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries [Internet]. 2018;2018 (54(7) :69-84. Publisher's VersionAbstract

BLEVE is one of major accidents observed in gas industry causing severe damage to people and environment. Its effects are manifested in three ways: shock wave propagation, fireball radiation and fragments projection. To assess these effects, risk decision-makers often use Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA). In most cases, QRA data are obtained from empirical correlations. However, these correlations are not very satisfactory because they generally overestimate BLEVE effects and do not take into account geometry effects. In order to overcome the limitations of these empirical approaches, CFD modeling appears as a powerful tool able to provide more accurate data to better realize QRA. In this paper, the objective is to develop a CFD methodology in order to predict BLEVE thermal effects. Numerical simulations are carried out using the CFD code FDS. A sensitivity analysis of numerical models is performed in order to choose the right parameters allowing to model the fireball dynamics. The models retained are based on a single-step combustion using EDC model coupled with a LES turbulence model. Predictions show good agreement in comparison with results issued from three large-scale experiments. Furthermore, a case study on a propane accumulator in an Algerian gas processing unit is carried out.

CHETTOUH S, HAMZI R, MCHEBILA. Contribution of the lessons learned from oil refining accidents to the industrial risks assessment. Management of Environmental Quality [Internet]. 2018;2018 (29(4) :643-665. Publisher's VersionAbstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to employ lessons learned from the industrial accidents in Skikda refinery during the period from 2005 to 2016 as input data for the numerical simulation of risk consequences to identify the exposed areas to the various effects of industrial accidents.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to assess how the lessons learned can contribute to modeling the accidents effects in the refining activities, this paper presents a combined statistical/dynamic approach that combines two main tools, namely, lessons learned from petroleum refining in Algeria and Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres software.

Findings

The results showed that fire is the most frequent accident at Skikda refinery that is mainly caused by equipment failures with a frequent involvement of crude oil and LNG. The NO2 toxic effects are unacceptable. This means that in the case of a similar accident, the entire population will be exposed to an intolerable concentration of NO2. Therefore, people must be relocated to a safer place. The results indicate that the concentration threshold can be met beyond the distance of 1 km.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the economic importance of Skikda refinery and the absence of data related to the accidents in the refineries of Algiers, Arzew and Hassi Messaoud, this study is limited to the statistical analysis of accidents related to Skikda refinery.

Practical implications

This approach makes the risk assessment more practical and effective for the appropriate utilization of safety barriers and for the whole decision-making process.

Originality/value

This work presents a review paper of accidents that occurred in the oil-refining sector in Algeria, whose objective is learning lessons from past accidents history, by identifying their immediate causes and effects on personnel, equipment and environment in order to propose prevention measures. The novelty of this work is highlighted by the fact that this statistical analysis of oil and gas refining accident is realized for the first time in Algeria. This is due to the difficulty of obtaining data on accidents in the Algerian refining sector; for this reason, the authors have limited the study to the Skikda refinery.

SAADI S, DJEBABRA M, BOULAGOUAS W. Contribution to the declination of the dependability requirements using a three-dimensional decomposition of complex systems. Prod. Eng. Res. Devel [Internet]. 2018;2018 (12) :647–658. Publisher's VersionAbstract
The declination of the dependability requirements of the complex systems is one of the most critical processes of systems conception as well as systems engineering. We consider that these dependability requirements must be globally considered at the complete system level if they are to be respected before being allocated on the components of the system. Our approach is based on a three-dimensional decomposition model of the system whose purpose is to describe the way in which the system operates in order to deduce its dysfunction that serves as a basic support for the declination of the dependability requirements. The proposed method is applied to a nitric acid cooling system before being introduced into a chemical reactor.
MCHEBILA. Bayesian Networks for Frequency Analysis in Dependability. J Fail. Anal. and Preven [Internet]. 2018;2018 (18) :538–544. Publisher's VersionAbstract
The high suppleness of Bayesian networks has led to their wide application in a variety of dependability modeling and analysis problems. The main objective of this paper is to extend the use of such powerful tool to estimate the occurrence frequency of failures and consequences in a straightforward way. Such extension is based on the employment of a transformation operator to substitute the original terms with matrices that hold the full dependability description of the corresponding element. Two simple case studies in reliability and safety contexts are treated using the suggested method whose results are validated through their comparison to the corresponding results of other classical dependability techniques.
2017
SAL R, NAIT-SAID R, BOURARECHE M. Dealing with uncertainty in effect analysis of test strategies on safety instrumented system performance. Int J SystAssurEngManag [Internet]. 2017;8 :1945–1958. Publisher's Version
ZEROUKI H, SMADI H. Bayesian Belief Network Used in the Chemical and Process Industry: A Review and Application. Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention [Internet]. 2017;17 :159-165. Publisher's Version
SAADI S, DJEBABRA M, BOULAGOUAS W. Contribution to the evaluation of the environmental risks induced by the worn-water discharges of an Algerian tannery. World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development [Internet]. 2017;14 (4) :268-278. Publisher's Version
MOKHTARI S, DJEBARA M, BELLAALA D, BOULAGOUAS W. Contribution to the investment evaluation in terms of the forest fires prevention using the cost-benefit analysis method", , 2017, :. Management of Environmental Quality [Internet]. 2017;28 (5) :651-663. Publisher's Version
SMAIAH M, DJBABRA M, BAHMED L. Contribution to the Improvement of the MADS–MOSAR Method for the Modeling of Domino Effects. J Fail. Anal. and Preven [Internet]. 2017;17 :440–449. Publisher's Version
2016
SMAIAH M, BAHMED L. Proposal For an environmental risk management approach applied in Algerian ports: the case of Bethioua port (Algeria). International Journal of Environmental Engineering [Internet]. 2016;8 (2-3) :213-224. Publisher's VersionAbstract

Background

Noncompliance of operators with work procedures is a recurrent problem. This human behavior has been said to be situational and studied by many different approaches (ergonomic and others), which consider the noncompliance with work procedures to be obvious and seek to analyze its causes as well as consequences.

Methods

The object of the proposed method is to solve this problem by focusing on the performance of work procedures and ensuring improved performance on a continuous basis.

Results

This study has multiple results: (1) assessment of the work procedures' performance by a multicriteria approach; (2) the use of a continuous improvement approach as a framework for the sustainability of the assessment method of work procedures' performance; and (3) adaptation of the Stop-Card as a facilitator support for continuous improvement of work procedures.

Conclusion

The proposed method emphasizes to put in value the inputs of continuous improvement of the work procedures in relation with the conventional approaches which adopt the obvious evidence of the noncompliance to the working procedures and seek to analyze the cause–effect relationships related to this unacceptable phenomenon, especially in strategic industry.

LAIDOUNE A, RAHALGHARBI M-H. Analysis Testing of Sociocultural Factors Influence on Human Reliability within Sociotechnical Systems: The Algerian Oil Companies. Safety and Health at Work [Internet]. 2016;7 (3) :194-200. Publisher's VersionAbstract

Background

The influence of sociocultural factors on human reliability within an open sociotechnical systems is highlighted. The design of such systems is enhanced by experience feedback.

Methods

The study was focused on a survey related to the observation of working cases, and by processing of incident/accident statistics and semistructured interviews in the qualitative part. In order to consolidate the study approach, we considered a schedule for the purpose of standard statistical measurements. We tried to be unbiased by supporting an exhaustive list of all worker categories including age, sex, educational level, prescribed task, accountability level, etc. The survey was reinforced by a schedule distributed to 300 workers belonging to two oil companies. This schedule comprises 30 items related to six main factors that influence human reliability.

Results

Qualitative observations and schedule data processing had shown that the sociocultural factors can negatively and positively influence operator behaviors.

Conclusion

The explored sociocultural factors influence the human reliability both in qualitative and quantitative manners. The proposed model shows how reliability can be enhanced by some measures such as experience feedback based on, for example, safety improvements, training, and information. With that is added the continuous systems improvements to improve sociocultural reality and to reduce negative behaviors.

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