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Chemical Engineering vocabulary · Process Safety and Hazards

Hazard

Meaning in chemical engineering, with examples

/ˈhæzərd/nounCore term

In chemical engineering, hazard means: Anything that could cause harm to people, the plant or the environment, such as a flammable gas, a toxic liquid, high pressure or a hot surface.

In Turkish: tehlike, tehlike kaynağı

How it is used

A key word in process safety. Teams identify, assess, control and eliminate hazards in studies such as HAZID and HAZOP. Safety data sheets list chemical hazards, and site signs warn of fire, toxic or electrical hazards.

Example sentences

  1. The main hazard in this area is hydrogen sulfide, so always carry a gas detector.

  2. We should eliminate the hazard by using a less toxic solvent, not just add more PPE.

Common collocations

  • identify hazards
  • fire hazard
  • major hazard
  • hazard identification
  • hazardous area
  • HAZOPShort for hazard and operability study: a structured team review of a P&ID, section by section, using guide words to find deviations that could cause harm or operating problems.
  • safety data sheetA standard document from the supplier that describes a chemical's hazards, safe handling, storage, first aid, firefighting and disposal, in 16 numbered sections.
  • flash pointThe lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off enough vapor to catch fire briefly when a flame or spark is brought near it.
  • runaway reactionAn exothermic reaction that gets out of control: heat is produced faster than it can be removed, so temperature, reaction rate and pressure rise faster and faster.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Process Safety and Hazards

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