Reducing the risk of catastrophic incidents in kraft pulp mills: How a process safety approach can be applied to black liquor recovery and other high-risk work activities.

This article discusses the importance of process safety in industries like pulp and paper manufacturing, where hazardous materials and complex equipment are common. Process safety involves looking at the entire process and identifying potential hazards and risks that could impact the safety of workers or others. The article highlights the specific process hazards and risks in kraft pulp mills, such as chemical hazards, steam and pressure systems, combustible dust, confined spaces, electrical hazards, equipment failures, environmental risks, and human factors. It provides steps that employers can take to reduce risk, including identifying hazards, assessing risks, implementing control measures, communicating with workers, and regularly monitoring and updating control measures. The article also emphasizes the need for process safety planning in black liquor recovery boilers, which pose significant risks to workers. It concludes by stating that integrating tailored process safety measures can effectively minimize the likelihood and consequences of incidents, protect workers, and create a safer workplace environment. [Extracted from the article]