Impact of Weak Signals on the Digitalization of Risk Analysis in Process Safety Operational Environments
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Authors,
Thank you very much for your manuscript.
The comments are as follow:
- Introduction
Could you please state the originality of this study in the introduction part?
- Concept of process safety digitalization, accidents, and weak signals
- The authors conducted many literature review in this part. However, the literature review is not clear and logical enough. I suggest you describe the literature by using table to categorize items.
- Please state the gap between literature and this study to identify the necessity and originality of this research.
- Process safety operations and environmental health
Please describe the connection between this part and the previous part.
- Part 4 and 5
Would you please state the methodology of this this study?
- Please check the detail part in this manuscript, especially, the way of inserting literature, such as, line 163, line 180, line 242, line 310.
Author Response
Review 1. Comments and Authors respond
- Introduction
Could you please state the originality of this study in the introduction part?
Answer: Thanks for the useful suggestions and comments. We have stated the originality of this research in the manuscript.
- Concept of process safety digitalization, accidents, and weak signals
- The authors conducted many literature reviews in this part. However, the literature review is not clear and logical enough. I suggest you describe the literature by using a table to categorize items.
- Please state the gap between literature and this study to identify the necessity and originality of this research.
Answer: Thanks for the useful comments. We have clearly stated the gaps in the literature. Also, the important weak signal and definition have been identified in this research as well as in the process safety operational environment.
- Process safety operations and environmental health
Answer: Thank you for your comments. This heading Process safety operations and environmental health in the manuscript have been modified
- Please describe the connection between this part and the previous part.
Part 4 and 5
Answer: the Digital Process Control System (DPSC) monitors, controls, nominates, schedules, dispatches, and reports all activities occurring in processing facilities. Risk analysis utilizing a digitalization method is a vital tool to develop a pattern of preventing accident risk and mitigation measures. Both parts 4 and 5 are related to monitoring activities in the operational areas as well as preventing accidents.
- Would you please state the methodology of this study?
Answer: Thanks for your useful comments. This article is more of theoretical research and required no methodology, which only involves reading a variety of published articles.
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper "Impact of weak signals on the digitalization of risk analysis in process safety operational environment" is a communication manuscript whose content is within the scope of Processes. I suggest the authors to revise the structure of the manuscript in order to present more clearly their discussion. Moreover, the titles of the sections are too long: please sinthesize them.
I suggest describing the cited accidents: what did occur in Bhopal?
What does DPCS mean? This acronym appears at line 241 and in Figure 1 but it is not defined.
Line 242: Error! Reference source not 242 found. I think refers to Figure 1. The same error is at line 310.
Some sentences do not comply with the format of the Journal.
The reference section should be revised.
Please revise the English language.
Author Response
I suggest describing the cited accidents: what did occur in Bhopal?
Answer: Thanks for your suggestions. These accidents are Bhopal, 1984 (India), (Broughton, 2005; Eckerman, 2005), occurs when about 45 tons of the gas methyl isocyanate escaped from a plant and have extensively investigated the causes of the Bhopal accident. However, in the accident reporting and analysis phase, neither of the authors of these studies (or other research looking at the same event) use the term "weak signals." However, a closer examination reveals a slew of instances that exactly match the theory in question.
What does DPCS mean? This acronym appears at line 241 and in Figure 1 but it is not defined.
Answer: Digital Process Control System (DPSC), the functions is to monitors, control, nominate, schedule, dispatches, and reports all activities occurring in processing facilities.
Line 242: Error! Reference source, not 242 found. I think this refers to Figure 1. The same error is at line 310.
Answer: The reference source has been corrected in the manuscript. Thank you so much for your information.
Please revise the English language.
Answer: Improvements has been made in the manuscript. Thank you for your suggestions.
Reviewer 3 Report
It was novel idea to approach of the causes in process industry accident as a ‘Weak Signal’.
The overall flow of this manuscript was the introduction & application of ‘Weak Signal’ by citation, and the suggestion of the new concept by application.
As the Author might recognize, the manuscript of the introduction of the new concept might be abstract, so it is cautious about reviewing and suggesting a comment by the Reviewer.
So the Reviewer suggests to enhance of the concept of the SIL (Safety Integrity Level).
The Reviewer believed that the Author understood of the concept of the SIL by IEC 61508 & 61511.
In the process industry, SIL is the concept of the prevention of the misunderstanding like ‘Weak Signal’.
And the concept of the SIL is widely acceptable in the process industry.
So the Reviewer suggested to quote of the SIL in the introduction section, and the solution of this study is combining with the concept of the SIL in the individual section.
After revising this manuscript, the Reviewer reconsiders the appropriateness of this study.
Author Response
It was a novel idea to approach the causes of process industry accidents as a ‘Weak Signal’.
The overall flow of this manuscript was the introduction & application of ‘Weak Signal’ by citation and the suggestion of the new concept by application.
As the Author might recognize, the manuscript of the introduction of the new concept might be abstract, so it is cautious about reviewing and suggesting a comment by the Reviewer.
So the Reviewer suggests enhancing the concept of the SIL (Safety Integrity Level).
Answer: Thanks for your comment and suggestion. See fig. 2 and AIChE, 2001. The layer of Protection Analysis: Simplified Process Risk Assessment. Center for Chemical Process Safety of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. One of the major concerns in the process environment has been identifying and leveraging risk. One of the methods proposed to reduce operational risk is the digitization of risk. Still, interference from a phenomenon known as "weak signals" has been recognized as a barrier to the digitalization of operational systems and risk analysis. Whenever a system deviates from its normal operations, guidance on safety integrity levels and Layer of protection analysis (LOPA) (AIChE, 2001), based on IEC 61508 and 61511 standards, determine instrumented System (SIS) and Safety Instrumented Functions (SIF). Sensors, logic controllers, and actuator devices make up the (SIS) system. Data from the activity sensed by sensors (such as temperature, pressure, or flow data). Logic controllers (PLCs, DCSs, or any microprocessor-based device) are at the heart of the system, processing operational data, while actuators monitor valves and indicators (Wang and Rausand,2014). The weak signal interferences on the SIS, on the other hand, will result in insufficient sensations from the instrument utilized to monitor various parameters functions in the processing facilities. Safety shutdown mechanisms are another name for SIFs. The SIF system consists of sensors and logical servers. Its responsibilities include monitoring changes in process operations and allowing a process to continue safely when a risk condition is detected. Furthermore, identifying and detecting unsafe operations will not be ascertained as a breach of signals between SIF and processing facilities, leading to unplanned equipment shutdown operations. However, if the facility shut down, facility operations would be severely limited, resulting in substantial production losses, economic losses, and damage to equipment.
Reviewer 4 Report
I read this manuscript pretty quick. Very short writing, sounds like an essay. To the review, this work is not a scientific research. There is no research method and results, no conclusions. This is an introduction of weak signal and its importance in the process industries, which are common sense to everyone. The review feels this work is at the same level as undergraduate project report. There is no meat in this "research". I would suggest to reject this manuscript.
Author Response
I read this manuscript pretty quick. Very short writing sounds like an essay. To the review, this work is not scientific research. There is no research method and results, no conclusions. This is an introduction of weak signals and their importance in the process industries, which are common sense to everyone. The review feels this work is at the same level as the undergraduate project report. There is no meat in this "research". I would suggest rejecting this manuscript
Answer: Thank you for your comments and suggestion I humbly appreciate it.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear authors,
Thank you for your revised paper.
There is still big problem in this manuscript.
The methodology is not clear enough. If this paper is a review paper, it should be described clearly in abstract and contents, or readers may confused with the outcomes of this study.
Author Response
The methodology is not clear enough. If this paper is a review paper, it should be described clearly in abstract and contents, or readers may be confused with the outcomes of this study.
ANSWER: Thanks for the useful comment and suggestion. We have addressed the abstract and the contents of the manuscript, such as
Weak signals on the risk analysis digitalization are of great importance for preventing major accidents and risk analysis in the process industry, especially for the process operations and production. However, some of the negative impacts are incorrect operational risk identification, significant inventory carrying costs, disruption of risk frequency, and risk consequence analysis, all of which will signal inaccurate information about unforeseen and current dangers in the process facilities and operational environment. While the positive impacts are viewed as an early warning system that provides information on operational risk system status, identification of potential risks weaknesses in process facilities, indicators of a transition or an emerging problem that may become significant in the future, highlighting future assumptions, challenging our views of the future, and expanding the selection of a processing facility. Lastly, weak signals identification in the digitalization of risk analysis can provide relevant information in supporting, assessing and analyzing the risks associated with the operation, designing a technical system, estimating the industry’s level of accident risk, as well as the possible controlling of a system. The present research will provide valuable information to the process industry on how to protect their operational facilities and increase process safety by providing information on weak safety risk monitoring systems in the operation and strengthening the process operational area.
Reviewer 2 Report
English language must be revised.
Author Response
English language must be revised.
ANSWER: Thank you for your useful suggestion. We have improved on the English language in the manuscript.
Reviewer 3 Report
The Author revised the overall contents in this manuscript.
The Reviewer accepted this manuscript in this present form.
Author Response
The Reviewer accepted this manuscript in this present form.
ANSWER: Thank you for your useful comment.
Reviewer 4 Report
None
Author Response
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsNone
ANSWER: Thank you so much!
Round 3
Reviewer 4 Report
none
Author Response
Comments and Suggestions for Authorsnone
ANSWER: Thank you so much!
