Definition(s)
ALARP
As Low As Reasonably Practicable.
Source: DNVGL-RP-G108, Cyber security in the oil and gas industry based on IEC 62443, DNV GL, September 2017. Global Standards
Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors, Appendix 2 to Health, Safety and Environment Case Guidelines for Offshore Drilling Contractors, Issue 3.3.2, February 2010. IADC Guidelines
Source: IOGP Report No. 510, Operating Management System Framework for controlling risk and delivering high performance in the oil and gas industry, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, June 2014. Global Standards
Source: Oil & Gas UK, Guidelines on subsea BOP systems, Issue 1, July 2012, Global Standards
Source: OGP Report No. 476, Recommendations for enhancements to well control training, examination and certification, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, October 2012. Global Standards
Source: 117 OLF, Norwegian Oil and Gas Association recommended guidelines for Well Integrity, No. 117, Revision No. 4, June 2011. Global Standards
Source: NOPSEMA Guidance Note: ALARP, N-04300-GN0166, Australia, Revision 4, December 2012. Regulatory Guidance
Source: NOPSEMA Guidance Note: Control Measures and Performance Standards, N-04300 GN0271, Australia, Revision 3, December 2011. Regulatory Guidance
Source: NOPSEMA Guidance Note: Noise Management—Principles of Assessment and Control, N-09000-GN0401, Australia, Revision 3, December 2011. Regulatory Guidance
Source: OGP Report No. 476, Recommendations for enhancements to well control training, examination and certification, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, October 2012. Global Standards
Source: Rules for Classification and Construction, IV Industrial Services, 6 Offshore Technology, 9 Guideline for Personnel Transfers by Means of Lifting Appliances, Edition 2011, Germanischer Lloyd SE, Global Standards
ALARP
As low as reasonably practical.
Source: ISO 16530-1:2017, Petroleum and natural gas industries - Well integrity – Part 1: Life cycle governance, First Edition, March 2017. Global Standards
Source: API Standard 2RD, Dynamic Risers for Floating Production Systems, Second Edition, September 2013. Global Standards
ALARP
Implementation of risk-reducing measures until the cost (including time, capital costs or other resources/assets) of further risk reduction is disproportional to the potential risk reducing effect achieved by implementing any additional measure
- Note: 1 to entry: See UK HSE
Source: ISO 16530-1:2017, Petroleum and natural gas industries - Well integrity – Part 1: Life cycle governance, First Edition, March 2017. Global Standards
ALARP/ALARA
"As Low as Reasonably Practicable" (ALARP) is a commonly applied, judgement-based, principle to assess whether risk controls/barriers are sufficient. It recognises the concept of proportionality between costs and efforts expended, and risk reduction benefit. "As Low as (is) Reasonably Achievable" (ALARA) is based on similar principles to ensure the residual risk will be as low as reasonably practicable.
The principle recognises that it is generally not possible to eliminate risk entirely, but it aims to demonstrate that the risk of an activity has been reduced to a level acceptable to stakeholders. To reduce a risk to a level "as low as reasonably practicable" represents the point where the time, trouble, difficulty and cost of further reduction measures become unreasonably disproportionate to the additional risk reduction obtained. The UK HSE has produced extensive guidance on ALARP, including "Principles and guidelines ro assist HSE in its judgements that duty-holders have reduced risk as low as reasonably practicable" http:/ /www.hse.gov.uk/risk/theory/alarpl.htm. In the United States of America, ALARA is almost exclusively used in the field of radiation protection and is defined in Tide 10, Section 20.1003 of the Code ofFederal Regulations (10 CFR20.1003).
Source: IOGP Report No. 510, Operating Management System Framework for controlling risk and delivering high performance in the oil and gas industry, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, June 2014. Global Standards
ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable)
A process for assessing the amount of effort and resources that should reasonably be applied to reduce risk. Reducing a risk to a level which is ALARP involves objectively determining the balance where the effort and cost of further reduction measures become disproportionate to the additional amount of risk reduction obtained.
Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors, Appendix 2 to Health, Safety and Environment Case Guidelines for Offshore Drilling Contractors, Issue 3.3.2, February 2010. IADC Guidelines
As low as reasonably practicable (ALARP)
To reduce a risk to a level which is ‘as low as reasonably practicable’ involves balancing reduction in risk against the time, trouble, difficulty and cost of achieving it. This level represents the point, objectively assessed, at which the time, trouble, difficulty and cost of further reduction measures become unreasonably disproportionate to the additional risk reduction obtained.
Source: OGP Report No. 6.36/210, Guidelines for the Development and Application of Health, Safety and Environmental Management Systems, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, July 1994. Global Standards
As low as reasonably practicable (ALARP)
A phrase used in the Regulations and the Act. The concept has been elaborated in various legal judgements. (There is voluminous relevant guidance available from Australia and elsewhere, e.g. the UK HSE.) (The related phrase “reasonably practicable” is used frequently in the Act.)The legal definition of “reasonably practicable” was set out in England by Lord Justice Asquith in Edwards v National Coal Board [1949] who said:
“‘Reasonably practicable’ is a narrower term than ‘physically possible’ and seems to me to imply that a computation must be made by the owner, in which the quantum of risk is placed on one scale and the sacrifice involved in the measures necessary for averting the risk (whether in money, time or trouble) is placed in the other; and that if it be shown that there is a gross disproportion between them — the risk being insignificant in relation to the sacrifice — the defendants discharge the onus on them. Moreover, this computation falls to be made by the owner at a point of time anterior to the accident.” This English decision has since been confirmed by the Australian High Court.
Source: NOPSEMA Guideline – Glossary – Regulatory Operations, N-09000-GL0326, Australia, Revision 5, December 2011. Regulatory Guidance
ALARP
This term refers to reducing risk to a level that is As Low As Reasonably Practicable. In practice, this means that the operator has to show through reasoned and supported arguments that there are no other practicable options that could reasonably be adopted to reduce risks further.
Source: NOPSEMA Guidance note: Risk Assessment, N-04300-GN0165, Australia, Revision 4, December 2012. Regulatory Guidance
Source: NOPSEMA Guidance Note: Control Measures and Performance Standards, N-04300 GN0271, Australia, Revision 3, December 2011. Regulatory Guidance