Abstract
The performance of explosion risk assessments and the maintenance of their currency are pivotal activities within the safety management of the process industry. The most commonly utilised tools for the documentation of risk assessments within the industry are word processing software and homemade spreadsheets. Given the intricate nature of the installations, the high rate of modifications, the considerable number of personnel involved, and the frequent staff changes, ensuring the currency of these documents is of paramount importance, yet also a significant challenge. It is difficult to guarantee the complete transparency of the history and version numbers of such assessments with the tools currently in use. Furthermore, there is often no systematic management of these documents, which can result in their loss, particularly when personnel change jobs or retire. The potential consequences of this unsatisfactory situation can be catastrophic for on-site employees, leading to losses of installation, interruption of production/loss of customers as well as environmental damage. Liability issues may arise for both the operating company and the involved consultants.
