Written by engineers. For engineers.

In-depth process safety articles that go beyond the standard — exploring where methodology works, where it doesn't, and what experienced practitioners actually do about it.

ALARP / CBA

When does Cost-Benefit Analysis actually hold up to HSE scrutiny?

A critical examination of the Smith 2020 methodology, VoPF inflation assumptions, and where quantitative ALARP arguments are strongest — and where they quietly unravel under pressure.

// Coming Soon
LOPA

The double jeopardy rule: what it actually means, and where engineers get it wrong.

Double jeopardy in LOPA is one of the most misapplied concepts in risk assessment. Worked examples from real studies — including cases where it was incorrectly invoked to avoid a SIL requirement.

// Coming Soon
COMAH

COMAH Regulation 6 notification: a practical guide that HSE guidance doesn't give you.

Inventory classification, Schedule 1 Part 2 aggregation rules, threshold calculations, and how to structure a defensible notification when your inventory sits close to the boundary.

// Coming Soon
Functional Safety

SIL verification versus SIL determination: why confusing the two creates real risk.

The difference between determining a SIL target and verifying a design achieves it is fundamental — yet frequently blurred in practice. A breakdown of both, with common failure modes.

// Coming Soon
Integrity

Nelson Curves and HTHA: what the curves don't tell you about operating at the boundary.

API 941 Nelson Curves define material suitability limits — but operating near the boundary involves uncertainty that the curves themselves don't quantify. A practical guide for engineers.

// Coming Soon
ALARP / CBA

The Value of Preventing a Fatality: what it is, where it comes from, and why it matters.

The VoPF is the foundation of quantitative ALARP assessment — but few engineers know its derivation, its limitations, or how inflation adjustment changes the conclusion. A full breakdown.

// Coming Soon

What you won't find here.

There is no shortage of process safety content that restates what the standard already says. HUMAIN Insights is written for practitioners who already know the standard and want to understand where it gets hard.

Every article is written by a qualified engineer with direct operational experience of the topic covered. No generalist content. No sponsored posts. No fluff.

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No restating the obvious. If it's already clear in the standard or HSE guidance, we don't repeat it. We start where the guidance runs out.
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Real cases, real numbers. Where possible, worked examples use realistic engineering parameters — not sanitised toy problems.
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Honest about uncertainty. Where methodology is genuinely ambiguous or contested, we say so — and explain the implications.
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Attributable and traceable. Every technical claim is referenced. If we cite a standard, we cite the clause. If we disagree with common practice, we explain why.

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