Required in stage
Optional in stage
First term
Second term
Both terms
This year
Next year
Alternating years
External
Prerequisites
Identical coursesProcess Safety in the Life Science Industry (B-KUL-H0P20A)
Cannot be taken as part of an examination contract
Bernaerts Kristel (coordinator) | Boogaerts Geert | N. Aims
The general aim of this course is to give students a basic understanding of the intrinsic hazards, risks and associated safeguards that are specific for production processes in the Life Science industry, and to enable students to identify and analyze risks of exemplary production processes in the Life Science industry.
At the end of this course, the student
- is aware of the specific process safety risks in the Life Science Industry
- understands the general framework of process safety management systems in the Life Science industry
- knows reactivity hazards and testing strategies for API’s (active pharmaceutical ingredients)
- knows intrinsic hazards of gases typically used in the Life Science industry and knows associated preventive measures
- understands the basic working principle of small scale steam installations and knows its risks and protective measures
- understands the characteristics of small scale dust explosion and can identify sources of static electricity as an ignition source.
- knows the theoretical foundations of the most important risk analysis methods
- is able to analyze risks of some rudimentary and exemplary Life Science production processes (batch reactors).
- knows the importance and the foundation of root cause analysis as an important pillar in the management system.
- understands the basic fundamentals of biohazards and its interaction with process safety
Previous knowledge
Holder of an academic bachelor in Engineering Science, Bioscience Engineering, Sciences or Biomedical Sciences
Is included in these courses of study
Activities
2 ects. Process Safety in the Life Science Industry: Lecture (B-KUL-H0P20a)
Content
Topics dealt with in the course:
- Process safety management and specific risks in the Life Science Industry
- Intrinsic hazards of products and installations: reactivity hazards and testing, intrinsic hazards of specific gases, safety of (small) steam installations, explosion safety and ignition sources, material degradation and testing
- Risk analysis methods in the Life Science Industry: HAZOP, What-if, LOPA, SIL
- Safeguards in the Life Science Industry: maintenance and reliability, functional safety, operational discipline and control, root cause analysis
- Biosafety and the link with process safety: hazard classes, biosafety level, interlinkage of process safety and biosafety
Course material
Handouts of the slides used in the lecturers and any other study material used during the course.
1 ects. Process Safety in the Life Science Industry: Seminars (B-KUL-H0P57a)
EnglishFormat: Practical
20 
Not organisedBoogaerts Geert | N. Content
Seminars by experts from industry.
Examples and exercises on theoretical topics dealt with in the course.
Company visit with specific focus on topics dealt with in the course.
Course material
Slides and other handouts.
Evaluation
Evaluation: Process Safety in the Life Science Industry (B-KUL-H2P20a)
Explanation
Report (5-8 pages, double column) on topic or application dealt with in the course. Report is submitted before the examination period. The report is defended during an oral defense in the regular examination period.