RISK ASSESSMENT OF MAN-MADE EMERGENCIES AT CHEMICALLY HAZARDOUS SITES FOR SULFURIC ACID PRODUCTION

This study aims to test an original methodology for assessing the risk of accidents and occupational injuries at chemically hazardous sites producing sulphuric acid. While sulphuric acid has broad industrial applications, its production process entails significant risks. The proposed methodology evaluates the state of the occupational health and safety management system using two independent indices: accident risk and occupational injury risk. Accident risk is assessed through expert evaluation, whereas occupational injury risk is determined using statistical methods. The accident risk level is calculated as the ratio of two factors: the hazard of the chemically hazardous site and the vulnerability of personnel to destructive factors in the event of an accident. Site hazard is defined by criteria grouped into four clusters: organisational, technical, human,and technological. Occupational injury risk is measured as the ratio of injury frequencyto the severity of health consequences. The findings demonstrate that effective occupational health and safety measures can maintain accident risk at a low level, even at facilities operating high-hazard technological equipment. The study found no significant differences between the sulphuric acid production technology employed and the levels of accident risk and occupational injury among workers at the site.