Enhancing Safety and Compliance at The Royal Mint Through Comprehensive COMAH, HAZOP, and DSEAR Assessments
The Royal Mint is a UK institution that most of us will have heard of because they ‘Mint’ all the coins in circulation. Very few people will be aware of the vast array of production processes that are carried out at the site in South Wales to make the coins in our pocket a reality. The site in Llantrisant produces standard coins as well as commemorative products for the UK as well as being an industry leader for other countries minting operations.
OTECSA personnel have been involved at the Royal Mint site in Llantrisant at several points to carry out process safety risk assessments such as HAZOP (Hazard and Operability) studies, DSEAR Risk Assessments and Hazardous Area Classification.
As part of the assessment for any new process operation, a suitable and sufficient risk assessment must be carried out. Due to the constant need for new products and innovation in coin manufacturing, The Royal Mint are regularly carrying out design projects and process changes. OTECSA personnel were involved with several projects initial design risk assessments. These included HAZID hazard identification studies at FEED design and HAZOP – hazard and operability studies at detailed design stage. These were carried out to understand the operational hazards and assess design safeguards and other mitigations.
DSEAR is required wherever there is combustible dust material or flammable liquids, vapours or gases either handled or produced. Due to the handling of hazardous chemicals in the production processes at The Royal Mint, and the requirement for detailed risk assessments under the COMAH regulations, OTECSA personnel have been engaged to carry out DSEAR Risk Assessments for various parts of the Llantrisant site. It makes us very proud as a company to have been involved in such as well known institution, and we have had some great feedback from the site on the work we have delivered.