A multi‐criteria risk assessment methodology for industrial risks

Abstract Traditional risk assessment methodologies for major industrial hazards predominantly rely on the binary combination of probability and severity. This paper proposes a comprehensive multi‐criteria risk assessment methodology integrating six key indicators: occurrence probability, hazardous phenomenon intensity, phenomenon kinetics, target exposure, target vulnerability, and non‐detectability. Each indicator is evaluated on a standardized 1–10 scale, enabling the integration of both qualitative and quantitative data. The methodology incorporates the ALARP principle through three risk tolerance zones (Acceptable, ALARP, Unacceptable). The methodology is applied to a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) scenario of an LPG storage sphere at the Hassi R'Mel industrial complex in Algeria. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach provides more nuanced risk characterization than traditional methods, with the radar chart visualization offering intuitive comparison of risk profiles. A 16.7% reduction in risk was achieved through inventory limitation, moving the scenario from Unacceptable to the ALARP zone, thereby validating the methodology's practical utility for industrial risk management.