Page 42 - Pipeline Risk Management Manual Ideas, Techniques, and Resources

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Risk Assessment

Process

1. Using this manual To get answers quick!
Formal risk management can become a useful tool for pipeline While the topic ofpipeline risk management does fill the pages
operators, managers, and others interested in pipeline safety of this book, the process does not have to be highly complex or
and/or efficiency. Benefits are not only obtained from an expensive. Portions of this book can be used as a “cookbook” to
enhanced ability to improve safety and reduce risk, but experi- quickly implement a risk management system or simply pro-
ence has shown that the risk assessment process draws together vide ideas to pipeline evaluators. A fairly detailed pipeline risk
so much useful information into a central location that it assessment system can be set up and functioning in a relatively
becomes a constant reference point and information repository short time by just one evaluator.
for decision making all across the organization. A reader could adopt the risk assessment framework
The purpose of the pipeline risk assessment method described in Chapters 3 through 7 to begin assessing risk imme-
described in Chapters 3 through 7 of this book is to evaluate diately. An overview of the base model with suggested weight-
a pipeline’s risk exposure to the public and to identify ways to ings of all risk variables is shown in Risk Assessment af a
effectively manage that risk. Chapters 8 through 14 discuss Glance, with each variable fully described in later chapters.
special risk assessment considerations, including special A risk evaluator with little or no pipeline operating experience
pipeline facilities and the use of absolute risk results. could most certainly adopt this approach, at least initially.
Chapter 15 describes the transition from risk assessment to risk Similarly, an evaluator who wants to assess pipelines covering a
management. wide range of services, environments, and operators may wish