Security Risk Management Programme for Chemical Process Industries: Indian Perspective

The increased terrorist activities in all parts of the world have raised the concern of a possible terror attack on Chemical Process Industries (CPI) handling hazardous chemicals, After Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984) in India, a lot of research has taken place in the field of safety and the industries am better prepared for any predictable disaster. However, the existing safety countermeasures are not sufficient for the possible terrorist attacks. Therefore, I is important have a comprehensive security risk management programme. The essential components of a security risk management programme include security risk analysis, security countermeasures, and management of consequences. Security vulnerability analysis will help in assessing and prioritising the risk and consequently important security countermeasures can be suggested and the same can be incorporated after conducting cost benefit analysis. We have surveyed various CPI in different parts of India and analysed the current security lapses. Based on the experience of our visits, this paper discusses effective ways of reducing the target attractiveness, lowering severity of attack and mitigating the consequences of a successful attack. It is important to modify the operational strategy and bring some changes in the design of equipment.