Alex Fergusson
Risk Management, Testing
Alex Fergusson is the Manager of Chicago Operations and specializes in Risk Management Services including: Facility Siting Studies (FSS), Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRA), and Insurance Risk Engineering. Alex has worked with clients in the midstream, fertilizer, and specialty chemical industries where he specializes in consequence and risk evaluation of blast, toxic, flammable and fire hazards. In addition to servicing clients’ process safety needs, Alex also has extensive experience in jet fire and dispersion testing at the Wilfred E. Baker Test Facility, designing and running test and demonstration programs.
Anay Raibagkar
Blast Resistant Structures
Mr. Raibagkar is the Canadian Operations Manager. His background is in structural analysis, design (static and dynamic), finite element analysis, and software development. He has extensive experience in assessing vulnerability to occupants from explosion and fire hazards. Mr. Raibagkar has participated in numerous Facility Siting and Quantitative Risk Assessments. In addition, Mr. Raibagkar routinely conducts fire studies in Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). Mr. Raibagkar is the lead software developer for the Structures Group.
- A Methodology for Determining Blast and Fire Risk to Safety Critical Equipment in the Chemical and Refining Industries
- A Screening Methodology for Determining Blast and Fire Risk to Indoor Safety Critical Equipment in the Chemical and Refining Industries
- Blast Damage Considerations for Horizontal Pressure Vessel and Potential for Domino Effects
- Design of Buildings in Petrochemical Facilities Risk-Based Approach
- Impact of Thermal Hazards on Process Buildings Using CFD Techniques
- Is Your Safety Critical Equipment Safe?
- Risk-Based Approach to Building Designs and Decision Making
- Risk-Based Approach to Building Designs and Decision Making
- Shelter in Place Design for Toxic and Flammable Hazards: Case Study
- Thermal Hazard Evaluation for Process Buildings Using CFD Analysis Techniques
Anthony Sarrack
Quantitative Risk Analysis, Toxic Shelter Design and Testing
Anthony Sarrack is a principle risk analyst and the technical lead for toxic shelter design and testing. He came from the nuclear power and weapons reactor industry and has worked for BakerRisk since May 2006. In that time, he has been instrumental in the development of FSS and QRA methodology and documentation as well as toxic shelter assessments and testing methodology.
- Calculating Toxic Impacts to Indoor Populations
- Current State of the Practice for Facility Siting Studies
- Design and Operation of Effective Toxic Shelters
- Designing a Toxic Shelter, an Art and Science
- Designing an Effective Toxic Shelter
- Estimating Toxic Risk Exposure to Populations Inside Buildings
- Evaluating Risks Associated with Hydrogen Filling Stations
- Risk-Based Approach to Building Designs and Decision Making
- SIP Design – How Safe is Safe Enough
- Toxic Gas Detection in Ammonia Plants for Shelter-In-Place
- Toxic Sheltering with an Interior Room
Barry Bingham
Finite Element Analysis, Dynamic Simulations
Mr. Bingham works at BakerRisk’s San Antonio office in the Structures Group. His background is in structural analysis and design (static and dynamic), finite element analysis, coupled thermal/mechanical analysis, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and engineering model development. He has extensive experience developing engineering computer models to predict the response of structural systems to impulsive loads (explosives effects, blast, and ground shock).
- A blast testing and numerical study for open web steel joists
- Blast Performance of High Strength Concrete Reinforced Foam Core Panels
- Blast Testing and Analysis of Composite Steel Stud Wall Panels
- Blast Testing of Pre-cast Concrete Load-Bearing Wall Panels
- Constitutive Concrete Material Model Comparison to Tested Reinforced Slabs Subjected to Blast Loads
- Evaluation Of Design Methodologies For High-Pressure Hazard Barricades
- Inelastic vs. Elastic Plate Element Formulation for Complex Precast Panels under Blast
- Modeling of Tent Response to Blast Loads to Support Siting in Accordance with API RP 756
- Modeling of Tent Response to Blast Loads to Support Siting with API RP 756
- Technical Analysis of Tents Sited in Accordance with API-RP 756
Bill Mather
Risk Management, Risk Analysis
As a senior principal consultant and Director of Process Safety for BakerRisk, Mr. Mather has provided a wide variety of process safety and risk engineering services to oil, gas, chemical, and petrochemical companies around the world. Based in the BakerRisk Houston office, his recent projects have included risk management services for LNG liquefaction facilities and regasification terminals; liquid and gas transportation pipeline systems; offshore well and processing platforms, FPSO’s; siting studies for refineries and chemical plants, and QRA’s for major oil and gas operations worldwide.
Cheryl Grounds
Human performance and Management Coaching
Cheryl Grounds is a member of BakerRisk’s Process Safety Group. She has over thirty-four years of experience in the oil, gas, and chemical industries providing service worldwide to corporations in the areas of hazard and risk management, fire protection engineering, and management of process safety. Ms. Grounds’ experience includes upstream E&P, downstream manufacturing and distribution, and corporate management of process safety. She rejoined BakerRisk after retiring from BP, and resides in Houston, Texas.
Chris Heaton
Risk Management, Loss Prevention/Control, Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Planning, Fire Protection, Safety Engineering and Code Consulting, Natural Hazards Assessment
Chris Heaton is BakerRisk’s CEO, working out of the San Antonio headquarters office. He is globally recognized as a leader in operational excellence and management of risk engineering and management services. Chris’ 28 years of client advocacy has spanned multiple industry sectors including energy, consumer products, healthcare, higher education, chemical/flammable liquids operations, developers, public/government entities, and manufacturing & assembly.
Dan Benac
Material Failure Analysis, Incident Investigation
Dan Benac works at BakerRisk’s San Antonio office in the Materials Engineering Group. As a registered professional metallurgical engineer in the state of Texas, Mr. Benac is a specialist in structural integrity and material issues, failure analysis of plant equipment, materials evaluations, and materials selection for designs. He has over 35 years of experience investigating and solving structural integrity problems for plant equipment.
- A Guide for Mitigating Damage Mechanisms
- Achieving Equipment Reliability through Investigating Plant Precursor (Minor) Failures and Lessons Learned from Plant Failures to Achieve Equipment Reliability
- Assessment of Damage to Structures and Equipment Resulting from Explosion, Fire, and Heat Events
- Damage Mechanism Reviews and Mitigation Methodology for Ammonia Equipment
- Failure Analysis of Near-Misses to Avoid “Two-Peats” and “Three-Peats”
- Failure Prevention through Life Assessment of Structural Components and Equipment
- Gas Fired Oven Explosion
- Hydrogen Damage Mechanisms Affecting Assets and Equipment in the Ammonia and Fertilizer Industry
- Lessons Learned from Unique Failures Involving a Coal Gasifier, a Nitric Acid Condenser, and a Sulfur Storage Tank
- Potential Pipeline Failure Mechanisms & Mitigation Options
- Vertical Can Pump Failure
- American Petroleum Institute (API): API 941 - ASME/API 579 Fitness for Service
- American Society for Metals (ASM): Failure Analysis Society, Alamo Chapter
- National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE): NACE San Antonio Section
Darren Malik
Testing Operations General Manager
Mr. Malik works in the BakerRisk San Antonio office as part of the Blast Effects Section. His primary responsibility is management of the BakerRisk Box Canyon Test Facility. This 2300-acre facility is used to perform vapor cloud explosion (VCE) testing, full-scale structural response tests, and other high hazard tests that require large stand‑off distances. Testing at Box Canyon is primarily focused on the development and validation of blast load or blast response prediction methodologies. Mr. Malik also has extensive experience in performing facility siting studies and incident investigations.
- Ammonia and Hydrogen Vapor Cloud Explosion Testing
- Ammonia Vapor Cloud Explosion Testing and Implications for Facility Siting Studies, Consequence Analyses and Risk Assessments
- Ammonia, Methane & Hydrogen, Oh My! – Understanding Hazards from Alternative Power to Gas Options
- Are Unconfined Hydrogen Vapor Cloud Explosions Credible?
- Caribbean Petroleum VCE Case History
- Deflagrations by Design
- Hazards 29 Caribbean Petroluem VCE Case History
- Hydrogen and Ammonia – The Unique Safety Challenges
- Hydrogen and Ammonia: A Tale of Two Gases
- Is process safety keeping pace with the “boom”ing hydrogen economy?
- Myth Busting – Hydrogen Vapor Cloud Explosions
- Real World Applications of API RP 753
- Safe Transition to Low Carbon Energy: Ammonia and Hydrogen
- VCE Testing of Very Lean Hydrogen-Air Mixtures
David Black
Insurance Risk, Fire Protection
David Black works at BakerRisk’s Houston office as the company’s lead insurance risk consultant. He has over 27 years of experience in industrial property loss prevention and control, primarily in the oil, gas, petrochemical, and power generation industries. Professional duties have included: loss prevention surveys / evaluations, loss investigations, fire protection systems evaluation and testing, risk modeling of natural peril exposures, and development of loss estimates.
In addition to insurance risk engineering, Mr. Black leads BakerRisk’s Fire Protection Services area, highlighted by the Fire Hazards and Mitigations Analysis (FHMA) service. The FHMA methodology was developed by BakerRisk to assist clients who wish to perform focused, comprehensive analyses of their operation’s fire risks and mitigation resources available to limit fire consequences at their facilities.
- A Methodology for Determining Blast and Fire Risk to Safety Critical Equipment in the Chemical and Refining Industries
- A Screening Methodology for Determining Blast and Fire Risk to Indoor Safety Critical Equipment in the Chemical and Refining Industries
- Fire Pre-Plans – Developing Your Playbook.
- Fire Risk Assessment and the Design-Case Fire
- High Risk Process Loops: A case study using Fire Hazard Analysis to effectively manage fire escalation risk
- Is Your Safety Critical Equipment Safe?
David Bogosian
Explosives Safety/Government Research
Mr. Bogosian is a member of BakerRisk’s Structures Section and manager of the Los Angeles office since joining the company in 2007. During his 30-year career, his professional activities have centered around the design, analysis, and upgrade of structures subjected to blast and impact loads. Areas of practice include industrial facilities (for building subjected to accidental explosions), conventional and nuclear weapons effects, anti-terrorist design, and explosive safety for manufacturing and storage facilities. Project management experience ranges from the small and straightforward to multi-year R&D programs for the U.S. government.
- A Comprehensive Comparison Of Methods For Clearing Effects On Reflected Airblast Impulse
- An Evaluation of Engineering Methods for Predicting Close-in Air Blast
- Application of Finite Element Methods for Evaluating Hazards to Equipment
- BlastX Simulation of Gas Pressure and Multi-Room Propagation
- Blunt Trauma Vulnerability of Humans Subjected to Explosively Driven Wall Debris
- Constitutive Concrete Material Model Comparison to Tested Reinforced Slabs Subjected to Blast Loads
- Design of A New Test Fixture For Characterization of Near-Field Blast Effects
- Effect of Internal Blast on Steel Stud Walls
- Explosive Equivalence for Airblast Calculations
- Limitations and Consequences of Fragment Protection for Near-Field Airblast Measurements
- Mesh Sensitivity of Blast Wave Propagation
- Numerical Simulations of Reinforced Concrete Beams and Slabs Subjected to Blast Loads
- Predictive Metrics for Response of a Hardened Steel Door to Multiple Charges
- Propagation of Airblast Through Failing Wall Surfaces – Single Room Tests
- Standard Methodology for Evaluating Blast Metrics from Internal Detonation
- Vulnerability of Water Pipes to Explosively Driven Wall Debris
David Wechsler
Hazardous Area Classification
David Wechsler is part of the BakerRisk Process Safety Group working in the Houston office. He is a seasoned, experienced process safety consultant, having more than 40 years of experience in the chemical and insurance industries. He is a recognized subject matter expert dealing with Hazardous Area Classification, and has hands-on global experience with the U.S., European (ATEX) and IEC-, NFPA- and UL/ISA- related codes and standards.
Duane Rehmeyer
Audits, Fire Protection and Loss Prevention
Duane Rehmeyer is a remote staff member in BakerRisk’s Process Safety Group. His 39-year career experience includes all aspects of industrial fire protection and process safety management. Major accomplishments include developing innovative risk assessment techniques and cost effective approaches to lowering process safety and fire risk in the petrochemical and refining industries. Duane’s specific experience ranges from OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) program development and compliance audits, EPA Risk Management Plan (RMP) reporting and auditing, process hazard analysis (PHA), insurance risk assessment surveys, fire investigations, assessment of fire protection system infrastructure, and development of fire prevention and protection standards.
- American Petroleum Institute (API): API Safety & Fire Protection Group (SFPG)
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): NFPA 30-Flammable and Combustible Liquid Code
Gabriel Shelton
Building Infiltration Testing
Gabriel Shelton works in the BakerRisk San Antonio office as part of the Structures Group. His work focuses on the impact of toxic gases on buildings, testing buildings for air tightness, and indoor air quality. His work has primarily included modeling of air quality in buildings, as well as analysis of existing buildings and upgrade designs for petrochemical facilities, test cells, and blast-resistant modules.
Jatin Shah
Quantitative Risk Analysis, HF Alkylation Risk Management
As Manager of Global Business Development, Mr. Shah specializes in Risk Management Services including: Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRA), Corporate Risk Management, and Risk-based Decision Support. Since 1988, he has performed over 350 global QRA studies of refining, chemical, oil & gas, and transportation operations, more than 65 of which were QRA studies for HF alkylation units. Jatin works with clients to develop conceptual layout and equipment specifications for effective detection, isolation, and Water Mitigation strategies for HF, Ammonia, and other toxic processes.
- A Vision of Facility Siting Possibilities
- An Operational Tool for Risk-Based Decision Making
- Dynamic Risk Management
- Effective Application of QRA to Hydrogen Fueling Operations
- Estrategias para el Diseno Estructural de Edificios para Cargas de Explosion
- Inherently Safer Risk Reduction Options for HF Alkylation
- Lessons Learned From HF Alkylation QRA Studies
- Lessons Learned from HF Onsite Risk Assessments
- Lessons Learned from Onsite HF QRA Studies
- Managing Catastrophic Risk: Quantitative Methods that Provide Insight and Decision Support
- Preventing and Mitigating Toxic and Flammable Releases
- Risk Based Decision Making
- Risk Based Decision Making – Tools to effectively address PSM issues and recommendations
- Risk-Based Approach for Evaluating Safety Events in Fertilizer Production
- Simplify EHS Decision Making – Risk-based Decision Support Tools
- Site Management and Evidence Collection
- Strategies for Structural Design of Buildings Subject to Blast Loads
- Toxic Risk MitigationAFPM Regional Meeting
- Understanding and Communicating Risk Concepts
- Understanding and Developing Quantitative Risk Criteria
- Unlock the Hidden Value of QRAs to Optimise Risk Management
- Unlocking the Hidden Value of QRAs to Optimise Risk Management
- American Petroleum Institute (API): API 751 Rewrite
- Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS): CCPS Project Planning Committee
Jay Idriss
Anti-terrorism/Force Protection & Testing R&D
Mr. Idriss manages the Wilfred E. Baker Test Facility, which is located approximately 45 minutes east of San Antonio in La Vernia, Texas. In addition to housing one of the largest and most fully featured Shock Tubes in the world, it is the home of multidisciplinary testing teams who can evaluate high speed projectile behavior, flammable material dispersion, and jet fire effects. The teams also conduct custom and specialty testing and experiments for clients world-wide, including for litigation support.
Prior to joining BakerRisk, Mr. Idriss served as a Structural Engineer and All-Source Intelligence Analyst for the U.S. Army National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC). He has authored numerous studies on foreign military weapon and fortification technologies, as well as threat analysis reports for U.S. military systems, including Naval Special Warfare and large-caliber ammunition. Mr. Idriss has experience in explosives use and handling, threat characterization for various military and civilian facilities, and intelligence warning and analysis.
- A blast testing and numerical study for open web steel joists
- Blast Testing and Analytical Evaluation of Polymer Retrofits for Unreinforced Masonry Walls
- Dynamic Analysis of Insulated Metal Panels for Blast Effects
- Empirical Evaluation of Glazing Systems in Response to Blast Loads
- Evaluation and Practicality of Door Hardware Systems for Blast Mitigation
- Static and Dynamic Testing and Analysis of Insulated Metal Panels
Jihui Geng
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Dr. Geng works at BakerRisk’s San Antonio office in the Blast Effects Group. His work at BakerRisk focuses on research and development of 3-D CFD (computational fluid dynamics) code and visualization systems that are capable of simulating generation and propagation of blast and shock waves and their interaction with structures or buildings. Dr. Geng successfully developed a robust three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics code, BWTI© (Blast Wave-Target Interaction), which is routinely used in project work for BakerRisk.
- A Study of Blast Waves from Elongated VCEs
- Blast Adjustment Factors for Elevated Vertical Cylindrical PVBs
- Blast Attenuation in Tunnels or Pipes With Turns
- Blast Load Inside Enclosure Due to Flame Acceleration
- Blast Loads from Pipe Ruptures
- Blast Wall Shielding Effectiveness
- Blast wave clearing behavior for positive and negative phases
- CFD Modeling of Blast Loads from a Pressure Vessel Failure
- Characteristics of Elongated Vapour Cloud Explosions
- Comparison of Deflagration to Detonation Transition (DDT) Criteria with Test Data from Unconfined Ethylene-Air Vapor Cloud Explosion
- Deflagrations by Design
- Diffracted Blast Loads Behind Structures
- Drag Loads from Vapor Cloud Explosions
- Effect of Explosion Source Type on Blast Wave Shielding
- Effect of Flammable Cloud Treatment On Predicted Blast Loads
- Elongated VCE Blast Waves and Structural Damage
- Evaluation of Blast Loads From Pipe Ruptures
- Evaluation of Door Blast Shields
- Petrochemical Plant Explosion Consequence Assessment
- Potential for Ambient Vaporizer H2 DDT
- Pressure Distribution Inside Pipes Due to DDT
- Pressure Vessel Burst Directional Effects
- PVB Blast Load Enhancement Due to Mach Stem
- Reflection of Blast Waves off Cylindrical Pipes
- Simulation and Application of Blast Wave-Target Interaction
Joan Schork
Air Separation Process and Safety
Joan Schork has over 30 years of experience in the Industrial Gases and Chemicals industries. She has held technical and management positions in Process Safety, Design Engineering, R&D, Gas Plant Operations, and Chemical Manufacturing. This broad experience base provides valuable perspective in the identification of process hazards, the investigation of safety incidents, and the development of practical solutions to complex problems. Areas of expertise include cryogenic and adsorbent-based air separation processes, the hydrogen/carbon monoxide (HyCO) process and safety related to: O2 and other strong oxidizers, fluorine-containing compounds, toxic, flammable and asphyxiant gases, transport and storage of liquefied gases, venting of dense gases, and gas pipelines.
John Dyer
Risk Based Blast Resistant Structural Analysis and Design
Mr. Dyer works at BakerRisk’s Houston office in the Structures Group. He is a Registered Professional Engineer with over 20 years of experience in blast-resistant structural design, explosives effects, dynamic structural analysis, and risk-based design. At BakerRisk, his activities have focused on mitigating risk and hazards to occupants of blast-loaded structures. Mr. Dyer has extensive experience in the design of blast-resistant buildings and building upgrades to mitigate explosion risk, blast damage, and occupant vulnerability in petrochemical facilities. He has participated in numerous projects as the lead structural engineer for major international petrochemical companies, including numerous facility siting studies of petrochemical plants and refineries around the world. Mr. Dyer has authored various papers on structural risk assessment and design of blast-loaded structures.
- Blast Damage Considerations for Horizontal Pressure Vessel and Potential for Domino Effects
- Design of Buildings in Petrochemical Facilities Risk-Based Approach
- Important Issues in Building Blast Upgrades
- Leveraging Facility Siting to Optimize Mitigation Decisions
- New Building Siting Using Risk Based Approach
- Petrochemical Plant Explosion Consequence Assessment
- Risk-Based Approach to Building Designs and Decision Making
- Risk-Based Upgrades
- Techniques for Siting New Buildings in Petrochemical Facilities
Joshua Bruce-Black
Facility Siting Studies and Quantitative Risk Analysis
Mr. Bruce-Black works at BakerRisk’s Houston office in the Process Safety Group. His experience includes research in gas turbine film cooling, as well as performing Facility Siting Studies, Quantitative Risk Assessments, Water Suitability Assessments, Audits, Process Hazard Analyses, and Hazardous Area Classification Studies for a variety of leading petrochemical and chemical companies in the U.S.
- Ammonia Pipeline Integrity and Risk Management
- Comparison of Building Design: Design Accidental Loads vs. Risk-Based
- Current State of the Practice for Facility Siting Studies
- Implementation of Hazard Mitigation Solutions: Consequence vs. Risk-Based Specifications
- Leveraging Facility Siting to Optimize Mitigation Decisions
- Proper Application of Flammability Limit Data in Consequence Studies
- American Petroleum Institute (API): API Facility Siting Revisions
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): NFPA 59A (LNG) Technical Committee
Karen Vilas
Consequence and Risk Analysis, Business Development and Marketing
Karen Vilas is the Supervisor of Business Development and Marketing. In addition, Karen is a Principal Consultant in the Houston Process Safety group specializing in Consequence and Risk Modeling as well as Insurance Risk Engineering. Karen has worked extensively with clients in the refining and petrochemical industries with a focus on risk quantification and mitigation of blast, toxic, flammable and fire hazards. In addition to servicing clients’ process safety needs, Karen oversees the Business Development and Marketing group, focusing on industry education of key risk management topics through conference technical content coordination and media content development.
- A Vision of Facility Siting Possibilities
- Evaluating Risks Associated with Hydrogen Filling Stations
- Fight or Flight –What’s Your Fire Response?
- Is process safety keeping pace with the “boom”ing hydrogen economy?
- Leveraging Process Safety Techniques in Early Phases of Capital Projects to Optimize Risk Reduction and Project Costs
- Leveraging Process Safety Techniques in Early Phases of Capital Projects to Optimize Risk Reduction and Project Costs
- Myth Busting – Hydrogen Vapor Cloud Explosions
- Navigating the Green Waters of Hydrogen
- Why Proactive Assessment of Hydrogen Fueling Risks Is Essential
- Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS): CCPS Technical Steering Committee
- Texas Chemical Council (TCC): ACIT EHS Planning Committee
Kelly Thomas
Blast Effects Analysis, Testing R&D
Dr. Thomas’ primary technical focus is on the development and application of empirical, analytical, and numerical models for the characterization of flammability and explosion phenomena. He also actively participates in the investigation of accidental industrial explosions, explosion consequence assessments, and testing. He has led explosion consequence assessments for refineries, chemical processing plants, offshore oil production platforms, other industrial facilities, and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sites. Dr. Thomas has been involved with testing projects that include large-scale vapor cloud explosions, vented deflagrations, response of equipment to internal explosions, and gas mixing within enclosures. Dr. Thomas has numerous publications and conference presentations related to these topics.
- A Study of Blast Waves from Elongated VCEs
- Air Compressor Demister Fire and Explosion
- Ammonia and Hydrogen Vapor Cloud Explosion Testing
- Ammonia Vapor Cloud Explosion Testing and Implications for Facility Siting Studies, Consequence Analyses and Risk Assessments
- Ammonia, Methane & Hydrogen, Oh My! – Understanding Hazards from Alternative Power to Gas Options
- An Update to the Baker-Strehlow-Tang Vapor Cloud Explosion Prediction Methodology Flame Speed Table
- Are Unconfined Hydrogen Vapor Cloud Explosions Credible?
- Are Unconfined Hydrogen Vapor Cloud Explosions Credible?
- Blast Adjustment Factors for Elevated Vertical Cylindrical PVBs
- Blast Attenuation in Tunnels or Pipes With Turns
- Blast Load Inside Enclosure Due to Flame Acceleration
- Blast Wall Shielding Effectiveness
- Caribbean Petroleum VCE Case History
- Characteristics of Elongated Vapour Cloud Explosions
- Combustible Gas Issues in Nuclear Safety Panel Discussion
- Comparison of Deflagration to Detonation Transition (DDT) Criteria with Test Data from Unconfined Ethylene-Air Vapor Cloud Explosion
- Comparison of Large-Scale Vented Deflagration Tests to CFD Simulations for Partially Congested Enclosures
- Consideration of Non-Structural Internal Debris in Siting of Blast Resistant Modules
- Consideration of Non-Structural Internal Debris in Siting of Blast Resistant Modules Presentation
- Deflagration Load Generator – Blast Load Testing of an ISO Container and Blast Resistant Wood Building
- Deflagration Load Generator Blast Load Testing of an ISO Shipping Container & Blast Resistant Wood Building
- Deflagration Load Generator Repeatability and Application to Test Article Blast Loading
- Deflagration to Detonation Transition in Unconfined Vapor Cloud Explosions
- Deflagration to Detonation Transition in Unconfined VCEs
- Deflagrations by Design
- Diffracted Blast Loads Behind Structures
- Dust Explosion Case History
- Effect of Explosion Source Type on Blast Wave Shielding
- Effect of Flammable Cloud Treatment On Predicted Blast Loads
- Effect of Inert Species on the Laminar Burning Velocity of Hydrogen and Ethylene
- Elevated Internal Pressures in Vented Deflagration Tests
- Elongated VCE Blast Waves and Structural Damage
- Evaluation of Blast Loads From Pipe Ruptures
- Evaluation of Door Blast Shields
- Facilitating Consistent Siting Hazard Distance Predictions Using the TNO Multi-Energy Model
- Facility Siting – Negotiating the Minefield of “Maximum Credible Event”
- Fireball and Flame Venting Comparisons: Test Data, CFD Simulations and Industry Standard Predictions
- Hazards 26 – 074 Large-Scale Vented Deflagration Tests
- Hazards 29 Caribbean Petroluem VCE Case History
- Historical Overview of Facility Siting
- Hydrogen Jet Vapor Cloud Explosion: A Model for Predicting Blast Size and Application to Risk Assessment
- Indoor Dispersions of Aerosols and Vented Fire or Explosion
- Large-Scale Vented Deflagration Tests
- Loss of Inerting Due to Multiple Exhaust Vents
- Petrochemical Plant Explosion Consequence Assessment
- Potential for Ambient Vaporizer H2 DDT
- Pressure Distribution Inside Pipes Due to DDT
- Pressure Vessel Burst Directional Effects
- Produced Water Tank Explosion Case Study
- Propagation of a Vapor Cloud Detonation from a Congested Area into an Ucongested Area
- Reflection of Blast Waves off Cylindrical Pipes
- Simulation and Application of Blast Wave-Target Interaction
- Techniques for Siting New Buildings in Petrochemical Facilities
- The Use of Bent Poles as a Detonation Indicator
- Tracing Source of Ethylene Oxide Gas House Explosion
- Vented Deflagration Tests in Congested Enclosures & Comparison with Predictive Methods
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): NFPA Explosion Protection Committee (formerly 68/69)
Matthew Edel
Pressure Testing Hazards and Enclosure Design
Mr. Edel works at BakerRisk’s San Antonio office in the Protective Structures Section. His work focuses on impulsive and conventional loading of structures for industrial and government applications. This has primarily included analysis and design of new and existing buildings, blast-resistant upgrade designs, explosive test containment enclosures, and federal building and airport evaluations and site planning. He has performed siting studies for various petrochemical plants to determine the response of structural components and systems to blast loads.
- Assessment of Damage to Structures and Equipment Resulting from Explosion, Fire, and Heat Events
- Blast Design of Curtain Wall
- Caribbean Petroleum VCE Case History
- CFD Modeling of Blast Loads from a Pressure Vessel Failure
- CFD Modeling of Blast Loads from a Pressure Vessel Failure
- Comparison of Dynamic Finite Element Analysis Model to Single Degree of Freedom Method for Blast Analysis of Multi-Story Steel Frame
- Dust Explosion Case History
- Dynamic Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Modular Metal Buildings in Petrochemical Facilities
- Evaluation Of Design Methodologies For High-Pressure Hazard Barricades
- Evaluation of Design Methodologies for High-Pressure Hazard Barricades
- Experimental Test of a High Pressure Testing Enclosure
- Finite Element Analysis Modeling Considerations of Crimped Metal Wall Panels Subjected to Blast Loads
- Hazards 29 Caribbean Petroluem VCE Case History
- High Pressure Testing Hazards
- Impact of Thermal Hazards on Process Buildings Using CFD Techniques
- Importance of Connections in High-Pressure Barricade Design
- Novel Approach for Blast Resistant Tent
- Pressure Vessel and Piping Hazard Analysis Methods Comparison
- Pressure Vessel and Piping Hazard Analysis Methods Comparison
- Reactor Vessel Hazard Assessment Case Study
- Structural Design Considerations for Masonry Walls Strengthened with FRP
- Submerged Pressure Vessel Testing Hazards
- Thermal Hazard Evaluation for Process Buildings Using CFD Analysis Techniques
- Vapor Cloud Explosion Test of Air-Inflated Fabric Structure
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): ASCE Task Committee on Blast-Resistant Design
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME): ASME Post Construction Committee (High Pressure)
Michael Broadribb
Risk Based Process Safety, Management Coaching
Mr. Broadribb is a remote staff member in BakerRisk’s Process Safety Group. He began work at BakerRisk in December 2009 after forty-one years of service with a major oil company. During the course of his career, Mike has worked in onshore and offshore oil and gas exploration and production facilities, oil refineries, and marine terminals in Europe and North America in a variety of Operations, Technical, and Process Safety roles.
- And Now For Something Completely Different
- And Now for Something Completely Different, Part 2
- CCPS Incident Investigation Book, Third Edition
- Do You Feel Lucky? Identify and Manage Safety Critical Equipment
- How Many Process Safety Engineers does it take to Change a Culture
- Human Error. A Myth Eclipsing Real Causes
- I Didn’t Inhale, and Never Tried It Again. Proper Handling of Toxic Inhalation Hazard (TIH) Chemicals in Plants and During Transportation
- In Harm’s Wayafter which nothing was the same again
- It’s People, Stupid!
- Leveraging Process Safety Techniques in Early Phases of Capital Projects to Optimize Risk Reduction and Project Costs
- New Guidelines for Asset (Mechanical) Integrity Management
- New Guidelines for Managing Asset (Mechanical) Integrity
- Process Safety Aviation Series: And…Who Is the Pilot?
- The Process Safety Journey: Where Are We and Where Are We Headed?
- Two Incompetent Workers – Part 2
- Two Incompetent Workers. Too close for Comfort – Part 1
- Under Investigation; Wanted, Missing RBPS Elements
- What Have We REALLY Learned Bit By Bit?
- What Have We REALLY Learned? (25 Years After Piper Alpha)
- Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS): CCPS Golden Rules
Michael Lowak
Blast Designs of Windows and Doors, Blast Structural Testing
Michael Lowak works in the BakerRisk San Antonio office and is a Principal Consultant. He has 20 years of experience in the design and evaluation of structures subjected to impulsive loadings. His dynamic testing efforts include research and developmental testing, as well as proof testing of structural components and systems loaded by dynamic loadings. Many of the research and developmental test programs were partnered with analytical efforts that resulted in empirically validated analytical methods for evaluating the developed blast resistant structural system, with Mr. Lowak being a significant contributor in the analytical effort, as well as the testing of the projects. These projects have included development of new blast resistant window and door designs, innovative wall systems, and masonry wall retrofit systems. Mr. Lowak also provides structural analysis consulting for blast resistant structures with specialty in blast resistant glazing systems and doors.
- A blast testing and numerical study for open web steel joists
- Blast Performance Of Load-Bearing And Non-Load-Bearing Prestressed Concrete Panels
- Blast Response Limits For Load-Bearing Prestressed Concrete Panels
- Blast Testing and Analysis of Composite Steel Stud Wall Panels
- Blast Testing and Analytical Evaluation of Polymer Retrofits for Unreinforced Masonry Walls
- Blast Testing of Pre-cast Concrete Load-Bearing Wall Panels
- Development Of Blast Response Limits For Load-Bearing Prestressed Concrete Panels Using Full-Scale Shock Tube Test Data
- Effect of Internal Blast on Steel Stud Walls
- Empirical Evaluation of Glazing Systems in Response to Blast Loads
- Explosion Testing of Passive Fire Protection
- Propagation of Airblast Through Failing Wall Surfaces – Single Room Tests
- Vulnerability of Water Pipes to Explosively Driven Wall Debris
Michael Moosemiller
Equipment Reliability, Risk Analysis, PHA
Mike Moosemiller’s areas of expertise are in process safety and risk and reliability assessment, with 30 years’ experience in the following areas: Facility Siting Analyses, Quantitative Risk Assessment, Process Hazards Analysis, Reliability/Availability Assessment, Risk-Based Inspection, and auditing of management systems and field installations.
- Conducting HAZOPs That Are Good and Don’t Just Look Good
- Developments and Uncertainties in Hydrogen Fuels Risk Assessment
- Failure Under Pressure: Proper Use of Pressure Relief Device Failure Rate Data Based on Device Type and Service
- Guidelines for Evaluating the Likelihood of Ignition of Released Flammable Masses
- Historical Overview of Facility Siting
- Near Misses and Where To (Not) Find Them
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE): AIChE Loss Prevention Symposium
Michael Polcyn
Blast Resistant Analysis and Design
Mr. Polcyn is Manager of the Protective Structures Section, and has over 30 years of experience in the analysis and design of a wide variety of structures subjected to blast or impulsive loads from accidental explosions and security threats. He has designed several explosives handling facilities to ensure that pertinent Quantity-Distance siting requirements are met and working bays and operational buildings are properly designed to protect workers. Mr. Polcyn regularly works with clients to develop economical structural solutions for facilities required to provide occupant protection from blast and related hazards.
- Alternative Screening Level Models for the Siting of Structures Subject to Potential Blast Hazards
- Blast Performance and Response Limited of Non-Load Bearing Concrete Panels
- Blast Performance Of Load-Bearing And Non-Load-Bearing Prestressed Concrete Panels
- Blast Response Limits For Load-Bearing Prestressed Concrete Panels
- Building Design for Resilience beyond Design Basis Blast Loads
- Comparison of Dynamic Finite Element Analysis Model to Single Degree of Freedom Method for Blast Analysis of Multi-Story Steel Frame
- Determination of Pressure Levels for Siting Light Wood Trailers at Chemical Plants and Refineries
- Development Of Blast Response Limits For Load-Bearing Prestressed Concrete Panels Using Full-Scale Shock Tube Test Data
- Response Limits For Masonry And Cold-Formed Steel Structural Components
- Use of SBEDS for Blast Resistant Design in accordance with UFC 3-340-02
Murtaza Gandhi
PHA/LOPA/SIS/SIL/Fire and Gas Detector Mapping/Fault Tree Analysis
Murtaza Gandhi works at BakerRisk’s Houston office in the Process Safety Group. He is an Electrical Controls Engineer with 14 years of experience in controls and safety systems, and 7+ years’ experience in qualitative hazard analysis. He has extensive experience with various phases of the safety life cycle including SIL assignment, SIL calculation, SIL facilitation and verification, FAT, SAT, and startups. He has successfully managed numerous projects, meeting schedules, and budget constraints, along with providing quality product to the client. He has facilitated multiple PHAs and LOPA studies for clients worldwide. He has been a continuous member and leader of ISA at the student, local, and national level since 2001.
- A Methodology for Determining Blast and Fire Risk to Safety Critical Equipment in the Chemical and Refining Industries
- A Screening Methodology for Determining Blast and Fire Risk to Indoor Safety Critical Equipment in the Chemical and Refining Industries
- Approaches to Calculate Scenario Coverage Factor for Fire and Gas Mapping and It’s Impact to the Achieved Risk Reduction
- Capital Projects Safety Lifecycle
- Designing a Toxic Shelter, an Art and Science
- Digitalization in Process Safety
- Evaluating electrolyzer hazards in production of green hydrogen and ammonia
- Is Your Safety Critical Equipment Safe?
- Novel Approach to Developing Hazardous Area Classification (HAC) Boundaries
- Performing PHAs for a Hydrogen Fuel Test Cell
- Toxic Gas Detection in Ammonia Plants for Shelter-In-Place
- Vapor Mitigation Using Fixed Water Spray System
- Vapor Mitigation Using Fixed Water Spray System
Peter Smith
Blast Resistant Structures
Dr Peter Smith leads the protective structures group of BakerRisk Europe Ltd.; BakerRisk’s international office based in the United Kingdom. His background is in the assessment and forensic examination of structural systems subject to the effects of high-explosive blast and malicious actions, with a focus in progressive collapse. Peter works with international clients across the construction, petrochemical, government, security and defense sectors to deliver a range of analytical, design and research and development projects that mitigate blast, fire and toxic risk.
- A Methodology for Determining Blast and Fire Risk to Safety Critical Equipment in the Chemical and Refining Industries
- A Screening Methodology for Determining Blast and Fire Risk to Indoor Safety Critical Equipment in the Chemical and Refining Industries
- Expanding Consequence and Risk Assessment to include Escalation and BI Risks
- Is Your Safety Critical Equipment Safe?
- Risk Based Building Upgrades
Phil Parsons
Combustible Dust, Blast Effects Analysis
Phil Parsons works in the BakerRisk San Antonio office in the Blast Effects Section. He has experience with design, analytical techniques, and hands-on testing. His work at BakerRisk has consisted of performing siting studies and explosion hazard analysis projects in which he has predicted internal and external blast loads from deflagrations and detonations. Blast sources have included high explosives, vapor cloud explosions, dust explosions, bursting pressure vessels, and BLEVEs. His particular area of expertise lies with combustible dust hazards and he has performed over 100 dust hazard analyses as well as numerous incident investigations across a wide range of industries all over the world. Mr. Parsons serves on both the NFPA 654 Committee “Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids”, as well as on the NFPA 652 Committee “Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust”.
- BakerRisk Dust Hazard Analysis – Overview and Common Issues
- DHA Findings – So You’re Out of Compliance, What Now
- Explosion Protection System Deficiencies Discovered through performing DHAs
- Hazards 26 – 074 Large-Scale Vented Deflagration Tests
- Large-Scale Vented Deflagration Tests
- Protected Enclosure Structural Capacity
Quentin Baker
Explosions and blast effects, Combustion, Incident Investigation
Mr. Baker’s career has focused on explosion and combustion phenomena. He has conducted numerous R&D projects, hazards analyses, and engineering studies involving airblast effects from a wide variety of explosion sources, blast loads, fragmentation effects, debris throw, blast damage, and personnel injury. Injury prediction and risk analysis have also been the subject of Mr. Baker’s research; he has contributed to the development of a building occupant vulnerability model.
- A New Set of Blast Curves from Vapor Cloud Explosion
- A Study of Blast Waves from Elongated VCEs
- An Update to the Baker-Strehlow-Tang Vapor Cloud Explosion Prediction Methodology Flame Speed Table
- Atmospheric Dispersion Models Applicable to LNG
- Blast Adjustment Factors for Elevated Vertical Cylindrical PVBs
- Blast wave clearing behavior for positive and negative phases
- Bursting Vessel images
- Calculation of Blast Effects from Bursting Vessels
- Caribbean Petroleum VCE Case History
- Caribbean Petroleum VCE Incident
- CCPS Incident Investigation Book, Third Edition
- Characteristics of Elongated Vapour Cloud Explosions
- Comparison of Blast Curves from Vapor Cloud Explosions
- Deflagration to Detonation Transition in Unconfined Vapor Cloud Explosions
- Determination of Pressure Levels for Siting Light Wood Trailers at Chemical Plants and Refineries
- Development of Pool Evaporation Model
- Elongated VCE Blast Waves and Structural Damage
- Explosion Risk and Structural Damage Assessment Code (ERASDAC)
- Gas Fired Oven Explosion
- Gaseous Explosions In Pipes
- Guidelines for Evaluating Plant Buildings for Fire, Explosion, and Toxic Releases—2nd Edition
- Guidelines for Investigating Process Safety Incidents, Third Edition
- Hazards 26 – 074 Large-Scale Vented Deflagration Tests
- Hazards 29 Caribbean Petroluem VCE Case History
- Hazards Inside BRMs
- Inherently Safer Design in Plant Layout and Facility Siting
- Investigation Challenges of the Kinston Dust Explosion Accident
- Investigation Challenges of the Kinston Dust Explosion Accident
- Loss of Inerting Due to Multiple Exhaust Vents
- Observations of Off-Site Damage from Large Vapor Cloud Explosion (VCE) Events
- Predicting Blast Effect from Fast Flames
- Pressure Vessel Burst Directional Effects
- Recent Developments in the Baker-Strehlow VCE Analysis Methodology
- Revisions to API RP-752 for Siting of Permanent Buildings
- Storage Tank Explosion Investigation
- Tracing Source of Ethylene Oxide Gas House Explosion
- Update of CCPS Book – Guidelines to Vapor Cloud Explosion, Pressure Vessel Burst, BLEVE and Flash Fire Hazards
- Vertical Can Pump Failure
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): NFPA 921 Committee
- Texas A&M University: Mechanical Engineering Industrial Advisory Council
Rob Magraw
Process Hazard Analysis, Audits
Robert Magraw is the Operations Manager of BakerRisk Europe Ltd and is part of the BakerRisk Process Safety Group. He has an extensive career of over twenty-eight years in safety and risk management, including ten years in the oil and gas sector and over eighteen years in the nuclear industry. His main areas of technical practice currently include PHA, SIS/SIL, QRA, audit, and insurance risk engineering. He was previously head of environmental, health, safety and quality for an international nuclear services company. He also managed the corporate HSE management system and assurance program for a major international nuclear business with a global portfolio of nuclear and non-nuclear operations.
- Ammonia and Hydrogen: A Tale of Two Gases
- An Operational Tool for Risk-Based Decision Making
- Cashing in on the IEC 61511 Value Proposition
- Challenges of Transportation Risk Analysis
- Design and Operation of Effective Toxic Shelters
- Developments and Uncertainties in Hydrogen Fuels Risk Assessment
- Expanding Consequence and Risk Assessment to include Escalation and BI Risks
- High Risk Process Loops: A case study using Fire Hazard Analysis to effectively manage fire escalation risk
- Incident Investigation (SaRS)
- Making a Toxic Shelter Effective
- Risk Based Building Upgrades
- Safe Transition to Low Carbon Energy: Ammonia and Hydrogen
- Unlock the Hidden Value of QRAs to Optimise Risk Management
- Unlocking the Hidden Value of QRAs to Optimise Risk Management
- Why Proactive Assessment of Hydrogen Fueling Risks Is Essential
- European Process Safety Centre (EPSC): EPSC (BakerRisk Europe hosting an EPSC meeting in 2016)
- Fire and Blast Information Group (FABIG): FABIG (4 Qrtly mtgs in 2019)
- Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE): IChemE Hazards 29 Committee
- Oil, Petroleum and Energy Risks Association (OPERA):
- UK Chemicals Northwest:
Roy Moses
Training, Process Safety Management
Roy Moses is the Manager of Houston Operations and specializes in Risk Management Services including: Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRA), Corporate Risk Management, Accident Investigations, and Hazardous area classifications. Roy has worked with clients in the chemical (Petro and specialty chemicals), refining, pharmaceuticals, fertilizer, midstream, and Pulp and Paper industries. In addition to servicing client’s process safety needs, he has participated in numerous incident investigations helping clients identify, preserve, and evaluate materials surrounding industrial events.
Sean Berg
Lithium Ion Batteries, Energy Storage, Hydrogen Damage Mechanisms
Dr. Sean Berg works in our San Antonio office as part of the Investigation and Materials Group. He has a background in both mechanical engineering and metallurgical and materials engineering, and is a registered professional engineer practicing in both disciplines. As a university professor, he has taught university coursework and conducted research in each of these areas of engineering. With 10 years of experience as an engineer, Dr. Berg has expertise in structural and mechanical integrity of fixed and rotating equipment, fitness-for-service assessments, failure analysis of plant and refinery equipment, high pressure high temperature (HPHT) drilling and production systems, and forensic investigation of property damage and determining origin and cause of losses resulting from fire, water, weather, and external forces. Dr. Berg is also a specialist in batteries and battery materials, with in-depth expertise in battery energy storage systems and associated hazards.
Thomas Mander
Blast Analysis and Design of Concrete and Masonry Buildings
Thomas Mander works in the BakerRisk San Antonio office as part of the Protective Structures Group. His work focuses on the assessment and design of buildings, test enclosures, bridges, and infrastructure subjected to explosion hazards. Mr. Mander has managed and supported numerous government, industry, and internal research projects, mostly pertaining to the blast performance of reinforced concrete, precast/prestressed concrete, and masonry wall systems. Mr. Mander is currently working towards a PhD in Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. Mr. Mander has been published in numerous peer reviewed journals and conference proceedings and serves on blast committees for reinforced and precast concrete.
- Blast Performance and Response Limited of Non-Load Bearing Concrete Panels
- Blast Performance Of Load-Bearing And Non-Load-Bearing Prestressed Concrete Panels
- Blast Response Limits For Load-Bearing Prestressed Concrete Panels
- Blast Testing of Pre-cast Concrete Load-Bearing Wall Panels
- Blast wave clearing behavior for positive and negative phases
- Composite Steel Stud Blast Panel Design and Experimental Testing
- Consideration of Non-Structural Internal Debris in Siting of Blast Resistant Modules
- Consideration of Non-Structural Internal Debris in Siting of Blast Resistant Modules Presentation
- Current State of the Practice for Facility Siting Studies
- Development Of Blast Response Limits For Load-Bearing Prestressed Concrete Panels Using Full-Scale Shock Tube Test Data
- Elongated VCE Blast Waves and Structural Damage
- Hazards Inside BRMs
- Numerical Simulation And Testing Validation Of Prefabricated Composite Steel Stud Blast Panels Retrofitted With FRP
- American Concrete Institute (ACI): ACI Committee 370 Blast and Impact Load Effects
- Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI): PCI Precast Concrete Institute Blast Resistant and Structural Integrity
Tom Rodante
Fire Protection, Incident Investigation
Tom Rodante is a remote staff member in BakerRisk’s Process Safety Group. He has over forty years of international experience in the petroleum and chemical industries providing service to corporations and facilities in the areas of fire protection, process safety management, crisis management, risk engineering, occupational safety & health, environmental management, and incident investigation. Mr. Rodante’s primary experience is in upstream E&P (both on and off shore), downstream manufacturing (refining, petro-chemical, gas plants, grease, and lube oil), downstream distribution (marketing operations, terminals, pipelines), and corporate consulting activities. He joined BakerRisk with the merger of ECRC and BakerRisk in 2000, and resides near Dallas, Texas.
- Analysis of LPG Explosion and Fire
- Application of an Emergency Egress Risk Index System and Protection Layer Evaluation in the Determination of Life Safety Egress Requirements for Open Structure Industrial Occupancies
- Corporate Crisis Management – Disaster and Business Continuity Planning
- Industrial Incident Investigation Techniques
- Investigation of a Naphtha Storage Tank Fire
- Procedural and Causal Lessons Gathered Over Years of Investigations
- Switch Loading Hazards with Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
- Time Lines, Hypothesis Spreadsheets, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Finite Element analysis, Metallurgical examination, and Fault Trees, as applied to Industrial Incident Investigations
Travis Holland
Blast Analysis and Design of Steel Buildings
Travis Holland is a Senior Engineer and Supervisor in the Structures Section, specializing in the analysis and design of structures subjected to blast loading. Travis works with his clients to develop design solutions that can be implemented to address recommendations raised in Facility Siting Studies (FSS) and Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRA). Travis has worked extensively with a BakerRisk partner, Rigid Global Buildings, to provide clients a single-source solution for the design and fabrication of blast resistant steel structures.