Introduction
Major Accident Hazard Management is a structured approach used to recognize, evaluate and control hazards that have the potential to cause major incidents. These may include fire, explosion, toxic release, environmental harm, severe injury, or significant damage to assets and operations.
A MAHM Report brings together the key safety information required to show that major accident risks have been properly understood and managed. It explains the hazards, the safeguards in place, the responsibilities for managing them, and the actions required to keep the remaining risk within an acceptable and ALARP level.
Methodology
- Project Scope and Design Basis Review
- Major Accident Hazard Identification
- Safety Study Review and MAH Classification
- Barrier and Inherent Safety Assessment
- Safety Critical Element and Task Review
- QRA / ALARP Requirement Evaluation
- Management System and Duty Holder Review
- Management of Change and Emergency Preparedness Review
- MAH Register, Recommendations and Evidence Compilation
Conclusion
A MAHM Report provides a clear and traceable basis for managing major accident hazards throughout the project lifecycle. It helps engineering, project and operations teams understand the key risk scenarios, required safeguards, ownership responsibilities and follow-up actions needed to support safe and reliable facility operation.
1. MAHM Report for Common Cooling Water System (CCWS) – FEED Stage
Introduction
This case study covers a Major Accident Hazard Management Report prepared by iFluids Engineering & Consultancy WLL for a FEED-stage common cooling water system expansion project. The project involved new seawater supply and brine return facilities to support future industrial expansion.
The scope included supply and return headers, bypass lines, isolation and line break valves, online analysers, control system interfaces, electrical, telecom, firewater manifold provisions, and related civil and structural works.
Project Insights
- The MAHM Report supported safe design development during the FEED stage.
- The facility mainly handled cooling water and brine return, with no major hazardous substance storage.
- Major Accident Hazards were identified from HAZID, HAZOP, SIMOPS, ENVID, BRA, RAM and SAFOP inputs.
- Key risks included construction activities, flooding, lifting operations, battery room hazards, HVAC air intake protection, cyber security and simultaneous operations.
- Process-related concerns mainly covered surge, vacuum conditions, pipe damage, header overpressure and interface risks with existing systems.
- The study considered inherent safety, layout, separation distances, emergency response, Management of Change and lifecycle risk management.
- QRA was not required because the project scope did not involve hydrocarbon process streams.
Outcome
The MAHM Report by iFluids Engineering & Consultancy WLL consolidated the project’s major accident hazards and confirmed that risks were managed through suitable design, operational and management controls. No high-risk MAH scenario was identified, and recommendations from key safety studies were captured to support the next engineering stage and long-term risk management.
