3 Terms, Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations

3.1 Terms and Definitions

3.1.1
Absolute risk An ideal and accurate
description and quantification
of risk.
3.1.2
Acceptable risk
A level of risk that is acceptable to the owner-user.

3.1.3
As low as reasonably practical
ALARP
A concept of minimization that postulates that attributes (such as risk) can only be reduced to a certain minimum
under current technology and with reasonable cost. The ALARP principle is that the residual risk shall
be reduced as far as reasonably practicable.

3.1.4
Components
Parts that make up a piece of equipment or equipment item. (Pipe, elbows, nipples, heads, shells, nozzles,
stiffening rings, skirts, supports, etc.)

3.1.5
Consequence
 An outcome from an event
 Consequences may range from positive to negative.
 Consequences are always negative for safety aspects.
 Consequences may be expressed qualitatively or quantitatively.

3.1.6
Damage (or deterioration) mechanism
 micro and/or macro material changes over time that are harmful to the material condition
 Damage mechanisms are usually incremental, cumulative, and, in some instances, unrecoverable
 Common damage mechanisms include corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, creep, erosion, fatigue,
fracture, and thermal aging.

3.1.9
Damage (or deterioration) mode
 wall thinning, pitting, cracking, rupture
3.1.11

Design premise
Assumptions made during the design (e.g. design life and corrosion allowance needed).
3.1.14
Event
Occurrence of a particular set of circumstances.

3.1.17
Facility
Any location containing equipment and/or components to be addressed under this RP.

3.1.19
Failure mode
Examples of failure modes are small hole, crack, and rupture.

3.1.20
Fitness-For-Service Assessment
A methodology whereby damage or flaws/imperfections contained within a component or equipment item are
assessed in order to determine acceptability for continued service.
3.1.21
Hazard
A physical condition or a release of a hazardous material that could result from component failure and result in
human injury or death, loss or damage, or environmental degradation.
 Hazard is the source of harm
 Human error and external events may also create a hazard.

3.1.22
Hazard and operability study
HAZOP
 A HAZOP study is a form of failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA).
 Useful in identifying unforeseen hazards designed into facilities due to lack of information or introduced
into existing facilities due to changes in process conditions or operating procedures

3.1.25
Integrity operating windows
IOWs
Established limits for process variables that can affect the integrity of the equipment if the process operation
deviates from the established limits for a predetermined amount of time.

3.1.28
Logic model
A tool used to depict the effectiveness in depicting a combination of events that could result in a loss of
containment event.
3.1.44
Risk analysis
Systematic use of information to identify sources and to estimate the risk. Risk analysis provides a basis for risk
evaluation, risk mitigation, and risk acceptance.

3.1.51
Risk estimation
Process used to assign values to the probability and consequence of a risk. Risk estimation may consider cost,
benefits, stakeholder concerns, and other variables, as appropriate for risk evaluation.

3.1.52
Risk evaluation
Process used to compare the estimated risk against given risk criteria to determine the significance of the risk. Risk
evaluation may be used to assist in the acceptance or mitigation decision.

3.1.56
Risk reduction
Actions taken to lessen the probability, negative consequences, or both associated with a particular risk. A semi
quantitative analysis includes aspects of both qualitative and quantitative analyses.

3.1.59
Stakeholder
Any individual, group or organization that may affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by the risk.