Other Risk Mitigation Activities
Beyond inspection
Inspection does not change the rate at which damage occurs. When risk is high because the mechanism is aggressive or because the consequence is severe, mitigation activities outside the inspection plan are often the most efficient response. The RBI assessment should identify and recommend them, even though implementation belongs to other plant processes.
Reducing POF
- Change the material of construction or apply a lining, coating, or cladding.
- Add or improve cathodic protection, inhibitors, or water removal/chemical treatment.
- Modify the process: reduce temperature, control contaminants, eliminate cycling, change flow velocity.
- Add or improve the operating envelope and barrier management (alarms, interlocks, procedures).
- Repair, re-rate, or replace the component.
Reducing COF
- Reduce inventory or hole size potential (smaller equipment, inventory isolation).
- Add emergency isolation, remote-operated valves, or blowdown.
- Add detection and shutdown systems that shorten release duration.
- Provide dikes, containment, blast-resistant construction, or improved escape routes.
- Improve emergency response and operator training.
Traps
- Assuming every recommendation must be an inspection.
- Forgetting that some mitigations affect both terms (shutdown systems reduce consequence and can limit POF escalation).
- Failing to reassess after a mitigation is implemented - the risk basis has changed and the assessment must be updated.
Rule of thumb
If the mechanism is fast and unavoidable, mitigate the consequence. If the mechanism is controllable, mitigate the cause. Reserve inspection for what inspection can actually find in time.