A speciality chemicals company — formerly a COMAH site but now operating below the Major
Accident Hazard threshold — had identified concerns about the location of its control room in
relation to nearby process hazards. Although a candidate alternative location had been
proposed, the site required a formal Occupied Buildings Risk Assessment to evaluate
options. Crucially, they needed an approach that was proportionate to the scale of
operations and avoided unnecessary complexity.
We were selected for this project due to our unique combination of consultancy expertise and
real-world operational experience along with recommendations from other clients.
My Approach
We began with a site visit to assess both the current and proposed control room locations.
This was guided by check sheets from the Chemical Industries Association (CIA) Occupied
Buildings Risk Assessment guidance. To complement this, we carried out a simplified semi-
quantitative risk assessment, drawing on our knowledge of typical hazard ranges for the
site’s assets and referencing relevant codes of practice. The findings were compiled into
a short-form report that provided clear, actionable insights without overwhelming detail.
The Result
The project achieved the following results:
The assessment revealed that neither the current nor the proposed location offered the best protection for the control room.
Multiple alternative locations were identified that would eliminate exposure to process hazards, offering a safer and more robust solution.
Although the assessment focused on the control room, it also highlighted simple, low-cost improvements that could be made to other occupied buildings on site.
The site gained a clearer understanding of how to apply Occupied Buildings Risk Assessment principles in a practical, proportionate way — supporting safer decision- making without unnecessary burden.
Need help applying Occupied Buildings Risk Assessment
principles to your site?
Book your free 30-minute consultation to explore how I can help you make confident,
proportionate safety decisions.
