Recovery, Renewal, Resilience

Shut down and start-up processes at facilities need special attention to prevent accidents. Consider:

• If the shutdown is for a longer or undetermined duration then the operator needs to be aware of safety measures which should be taken
• Some hazardous materials degrade over time. These inventories need to be minimised and their situation monitored
• Nitrogen blanketing to protect against explosive atmospheres should be maintained
• Any loss of electrical power during the period of shut down may affect any systems that need to be maintained in operation (e.g. cooling, ventilation, pumping, stirring)
• Some processes, such as the storage of refrigerated gases, depend on a regular rate of consumption to maintain safe operating pressures. Reduced consumption due to a shutdown must be assessed and appropriate measures taken
• Warehouses that are not opened regularly may heat up due to external temperatures and absorption of solar radiation. This can lead to the release of hazardous materials or the build-up of hazardous atmospheres within the warehouse