ABSTRACT
Safe processes must be maintained to prevent loss of equipment integrity and reliability. The equipment has been designed to contain the hazardous materials, to prevent loss of control, to prevent loss of containment, and to reduce the consequences if control or containment is lost. This chapter presents several key concepts for equipment life cycle maintenance programs, including identifying critical equipment inspections and tests and whether the programs are designed for equipment reliability or equipment integrity. It provides a list of typical "critical equipment" used to handle hazardous materials and energies. Capable and competent maintenance personnel must be aware of and effectively implement the risk-based management system, including understanding the causes of equipment failure, developing, and implementing preventative maintenance (PM) programs, ensuring that the inspections and test results verify the equipment's fitness for service and that any identified equipment deficiencies are corrected. The chapter concludes with a case study of the maintenance-related issues which contributed to an incident.
