An integrated approach to assess safety and security risks in chemical process industries

Abstract

Chemical process industries (CPIs) face significant safety and security risks that are closely intertwined. However, previous research has predominantly examined these risks separately, lacking a comprehensive scientific approach to simultaneously analyze safety and security in critical systems. This research aims to propose an integrated approach to assess safety and security risks in CPIs. To achieve this, a taxonomy of safety and security risk factors consisting of four dimensions (i.e., occurrence probability, severity, vulnerability, and securing) and their respective twenty contributing factors has been developed. The validity and reliability of the taxonomy were assessed using the Delphi method, involving Subject Matter Experts (N = 25), and through statistical analysis. Subsequently, the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) was employed to determine the importance level of each contributing factor and dimension, thereby enabling the integration of safety and security risk levels. The proposed approach was validated through reality checks, and independent peer review. The findings of this study highlight the dimensions and contributing factors that have the most significant impact on the integrated safety and security risk level. Moreover, the approach provides insights into effectively assigning countermeasures to establish a safe and resilient operation in CPIs. By adopting this integrated assessment approach, CPIs can gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between safety and security risks, allowing for more informed decision-making and the implementation of targeted risk mitigation strategies.