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PRINCIPAL'S ARTICLES & PAPERS

available on request, subject to copyright

 

EXISTENTIAL RISK, POPULATION DEGROWTH, ECONOMIC DEGROWTH

2016-19

  1. Existential Risk – Ramifications of the fossil fuel dilemma, Thomas, I. F., submitted to the conference Risk 2016, 18-20 May 2016, Swissotel, Sydney

  2. Existential Risk - Why we urgently need our population and economy to degrow, Thomas, I., F., proceedings of the seminar, Climate and Energy - Risks and Opportunities, hosted by the Sustainable Engineering Society and the Risk Engineering Society of Engineers Australia, Melbourne, 20th February 2017; RMIT Informit Database, Engineering Collection

  3. Current sustainability initiatives - are they adequate ?, Thomas, I., F., proceedings of the conference Engineering sustainable cities, hosted by the Sustainable Engineering Society of Engineers Australia, Melbourne, 18-19 October 2017

  4. The enigma of anthropogenically caused salinity, indefinite economic/population growth and existential risk, Thomas, I., F., The hidden menace of contaminated land seminar, RACI Health, Safety and Environment Group, Melbourne, 08Aug18

  5. An assessment of the viability and benefits of using vegetable oil fuels and of more fundamental ways to offset the impending fossil fuel dilemma, Thomas, I., F., paper No 49, Chemeca 2018, Queenstown, New Zealand, 30September-03Oct18

  6. Existential Risk - Why we urgently need our population and economy to degrow, Thomas, I., F., paper No 44, Chemeca 2018, Queenstown, New Zealand, 30September-03Oct18

  7. Why we urgently need our population and economy to degrow; Thomas, I., F., Risk Engineering & Project Controls Conference, 15-17th May 2019, Sydney

  8. The future energy potential of Australia; Thomas, I., F., Risk Engineering & Project Controls Conference, 15-17th May 2019, Sydney

  9. The future bioenergy potential of Australia; World Engineering Congress, Melbourne, November 2019

  10. Existential Risk – Why we urgently need our population and economy to degrow; World Engineering Congress, Melbourne, November 2019

  11. Assessment of the viability and benefits of using vegetable oil fuels and of more fundamental ways to offset the impending fossil fuel dilemma; World Engineering Congress, Melbourne, November 2019

SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE FUELS, 2005-2019

  1. An alternative to diesel fuel, Your say, Chemistry in Australia, Vol 72, No 10, Nov05

  2. Practical experiences with biofuels, Energy Sources - Old and New, RACI Symposium, RMIT Casey Plaza, Melbourne, 19-20Jul06

  3. A practical assessment of the viability of inherently safer vegetable oil based fuels for diesel engines, 2nd year Report, RMIT PhD study, 08Aug10

  4. Assessment of the viability of inherently safer vegetable oil based fuels, Asset Management Council, 08Mar12

  5. Assessment of the viability of inherently safer vegetable oil based fuels, Thomas, I., F., proceedings of the conference Risk 2012, Hunter Valley, 20-22Sep12; RMIT Informit Database, Engineering Collection

  6. Research and recommendations into the viability of vegetable oil as a principal motor vehicle fuel; Safety Award Presentation, Western Safety Group Melbourne, 27th November 2012

  7. Assessment of the viability of vegetable oil based fuels, Thomas, I., F., Sustainable Automotive Technologies 2013, proceedings of the 5th International Conference ICSAT 2013, Wellnitz, J., Subic, A., Trufin, R., Editors, Ingolstadt, Germany; Springer ISBN 978-3-319-01883-6, pp15-25

  8. The introduction of a safer sustainable automotive fuel. Safety Award Presentation, Western Safety Group Melbourne, 26th November 2013

  9. A risk assessment of vegetable oil based fuels, Thomas, I., F., proceedings of the conference Risk 2014, Brisbane, 28-30May14; published via RMIT Informit Database, Engineering Collection

  10. Assessment of the viability of vegetable oil fuels: species, land, social, environmental, population and safety considerations; Thomas, I., F., Sustainable Automotive Technologies 2014, proceedings of the 6th International Conference ICSAT 2014, Denbratt, I., Wellnitz, J., Subic, A., Editors, Göteborg, Sweden; Springer ISBN 978-3-319-17998-8, pp197-215

  11.  A risk assessment of vegetable oil based fuels, Thomas, I., F., proceedings of the conference Risk 2014, Brisbane, 28-30May14; published via RMIT Informit Database, Engineering Collection

  12. Is vegetable oil fuel the answer – Immediate and far reaching ramifications of the fossil fuel dilemma, Thomas, I., F., proceedings of the conference of the Sustainable Engineering Society, SEng 2015, Adelaide 09-11Sep15; RMIT Informit Database, Engineering Collection

  13. The post fossil fuel dilemma, Thomas, I., F., Royal Australian Chemical Institute/Risk Engineering Society seminar, Alternative Energy Sources- Risks vs Benefits, 04Aug15

  14. The post fossil fuel dilemma, Thomas, I., F., proceedings of the conference Risk 2016, Sydney 18-20May16; RMIT Informit Database, Engineering Collection

  15. The post fossil fuel dilemma, Thomas, I.,F., proceedings of the conference Hazards Australasia 2016, Melbourne, 23-24 November 2016;  hosted by the Institution of Chemical Engineers, Melbourne, 9th August 2016

  16. Preventing major accidents by the use of high flashpoint fuels,  Thomas, I.,F., proceedings of the conference Hazards Australasia 2016,  hosted by the Institution of Chemical Engineers, Melbourne, 23-24 November 2016

  17. Assessment of the viability and benefits of using vegetable oil fuels and of more fundamental ways to offset the impending fossil fuel dilemma; Thomas, I., F., Risk Engineering & Project Controls Conference, 15-17th May 2019, Sydney, available from https://risk-pcc19.com.au/program-2/

LAND USE PLANNING NEAR TO MAJOR HAZARD FACILITIES, 2012-2016

  1. Modelling of a Vapour Cloud Explosion as a result of a Hydrocarbon Release from a Major Hazard Facility in Close Proximity to Residential Areas; Suraweera M, Thomas I F, Abdel-jawad M; Proceedings of the Conference Risk 2012, Hunter Valley NSW, 20-22 September 2012

  2. The 2005 UK Buncefield accident - planning ramifications for Australia; Proceedings of the Conference Risk 2012, Hunter Valley NSW, 20-22 September 2012

  3. Planning advice near major hazard facilities; Safety Award Presentation, Western Safety Group Melbourne, 27th November 2012

  4. The varying nature of planning decisions for developments near to Major Hazard Facilities, Thomas, I., F., proceedings of the conference Risk 2014, Brisbane, 28-30May14; RMIT Informit Database, Engineering Collection

  5. Assessing the impact of an explosion at Gellibrand Tank Farm close to proposed housing, Thomas, I., F., Asset Management Council Inc, seminar 25Aug14

  6. Assessment of the impact of an unconfined vapour cloud explosion at a major hazard facility in Melbourne close to a large proposed housing development, Thomas, I., F., Suraweera, M., International Journal of Forensic Engineering, Vol 2, No 2, 2014, Inderscience; ISSN 1744-9944, pp 122-143

  7. The varying nature of planning decisions for developments near to major hazard facilities in Victoria, Australia; Thomas, I., F., International Journal of Forensic Engineering, Vol 2, No 4, 2015, Inderscience; ISSN 1744-9944, pp 312-335

  8. Planning issues regarding major hazard facilities, Thomas, I., F.,  The Future - What are the hazards and benefits of new developments?, seminar hosted by the Health, Safety & Environment Group of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Melbourne, 9th August 2016

  9. The varying nature of planning decisions for developments near to Major Hazard Facilities in Victoria, Australia, Thomas, I., F., proceedings of the conference Hazards Australasia 2016, Melbourne, 23-24 November 2016

VAPOUR CLOUD MODELLING, 1983-1990

  1. Determination of the geometry, TNT equivalence and damage potential of an explosive vapour cloud, University of Melbourne, Feb83

  2. Modelling a flammable vapour cloud using Sutton's equation, Fire Australia, Autumn89 (also in proc symp Chemical  Warehouses - Disaster Prevention, IEAust, May89)

  3. A method for predicting the effect on the surroundings following a vapour cloud explosion, Fire Australia, Winter89

  4. Modelling the 1982 Altona vapour cloud, Fire Australia, Spring89

  5. Vapour Cloud Behaviour, Risk Branch, IEAust, 20Feb90

PROCESS SAFETY & LOSS PREVENTION, 1993-2016

  1. Official incident reports, can they be relied upon - the local scene, proc APCChE/Chemeca int conf, Vol 2, 133-140, 27-29Sep93

  2. Official incident reports, can they be relied upon - Flixborough, joint with Gugan K (UK), proc APCChE/Chemeca int conf, Vol 2, 133-140, 27-29Sep93

  3. Official incident reports, can they be relied upon ?, Risk Engineering Society, Newcastle Chapter, 05Jun95

  4. Engineering out the risk, RMIT/AusAID Industry Links Programme, 20Jun95

  5. Is it possible to recycle solvents safely and in peace?, RACI/RES seminar, Engineers House, 01Jul97

  6. Qualitative and quantitative risk assessment, OHS Diploma Course, Chisholm Institute, 01 & 15Sep01

  7. Lees' Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 3rd Ed, Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann, Vol 3, 2005; A132 Coode Island 1991 p1/63; A2.9 Critiques, Flixborough, Appendix 2, pp2/17-2/18

  8. Determination of the risk profile of a hydrogen-consuming facility using published failure-rate data, proc World Congress on Engineering Asset Management, 11-14Jul06

  9. Determination of the risk profile of a hydrogen-consuming facility using published failure-rate data, The Safety Conference, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, 17-19Oct06

  10. The importance of ‘human deliberation’ in causing accidents, ICOMS Asset Management Conference, Melbourne, 22-25May07

  11. The importance of ‘human deliberation’ in causing accidents, MESA/Asset Management Council, Melb, 11Oct07

  12. The importance of ‘human deliberation’ in causing accidents, The Safety Conference, Safety Institute of Australia Inc, Sydney, 24-26Oct07

  13. A day in the life of a safety officer, The Safety Conference, Olympic Park, Sydney, 0ct08

  14. A deeper analysis of lessons learned, Workshop, Risk 2010, MCG Melbourne, 10Mar10

  15. The importance of ‘human deliberation’© in causing accidents, Risk 2010, Melb, 11Mar10

  16. About major chemical incidents and accidents which have happened, Thomas, I., F., proceedings of the seminar - Explosions and chemical accidents - why do they keep happening?, hosted by the Health, Safety & Environment Group of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Melbourne, 9th August 2016; presented; not published

TUNNEL SAFETY, 1999-2008

  1. Road tunnels as confined spaces - safety considerations, joint with Rechnitzer G, proc conf Risk99, Dallas Brooks Hall, Melb, 30Aug-01Sep99

  2. Road tunnels are confined spaces - are they safe ?, Risk Engineering Society Seminar, 31May00        

  3. Road tunnels - safety, operation and maintenance considerations, International Conference of Maintenance Societies, Hobart, 31May-02Jun05

  4. Road tunnels - safety, operation and maintenance considerations, Part 1: The fundamentals; New Engineer, Vol 8, No 3, Aug05

  5. Road tunnels - safety, operation and maintenance considerations, Part 2: World experiences; New Engineer, Vol 8, No 4, Nov05

    6.    Safe design, construction and maintenance of road bridges, The Safety Conference, Olympic Park, Sydney, 0ct08

 

ENVIRONMENT, 1991-2019

  1. Environmental implications for the petroleum contracting industry, Pet Ind Contract Assoc, 28Feb91   

  2. Living safely with dangerous chemicals and contaminated sites, Ballarat & District Accident Prevention Group, 21Mar91

  3. Assessment vs audit - the difference, proc symp - Managing Contaminated Sites, 17Apr91

  4. If ifs and ands were pots and pans there'd be no need for thinkers, Insurance Surveyor's Group, 26Jun91

  5. Dangerous Goods & Environmental Legislation made easy, proc IMMA int conf 2-5Sep91

  6. Contaminated sites - the real cost, Insurance Surveyors' Group of the Insurance Institute of Victoria, 29Mar95

  7. Land Contamination Risk, Seminar - Australian Geomechanics Society, 11Oct95

  8. Contaminated sites - who cares?, RACI seminar, Melbourne Townhouse, 26Jun96

  9. Not in my backyard - an engineer's view, Eastern Safety Group, 01Sep98

  10. Container reconditioning - a brief treatise, Manage your waste - jobs at risk, RACI/RES Seminar, July02

  11. Notes from the chair, Industry Section, An introduction to lifecycle analysis, Centre of Green Chemistry, Monash University, 17Aug10

  12. Moulds in the built environment, Building investigation sub-group, FESA Inc, Melbourne, 27Jul12

  13. Some case studies in getting it wrong, Thomas, I., F.,Young Asset Management Practitioners and Asset Management Council Inc seminar, 13Aug15

  14. Soil salinity, sodicity and acidity in the Australian environment, opening presentation, Seminar, Chemicals in the Environment, RACI Health, Safety & Environment Group, August 2019

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY, 1980-2013

  1. The evaluation of the noise hazard of a range of children's toys, Safety in Australia, 3,1,Jan80

  2. Ramifications of the Victorian Industrial Safety, Health & Welfare Bill (1981), Safety in Australia, 5 ,1,Jan82

  3. Potential hazards of household chemicals, City of Malvern, 20 & 27Oct93

  4. A dangerous goods/OH&S/environmental consultant's view, Boral Workplace Health and Safety Officers' Course, 30Jun94

  5. The politics of safety, Chemical Engineering in Australia, Vol ChE 20 No 1, 14-20; Mar95

  6. Overview of activities of I F Thomas & Associates, ICI Australia Hygiene and Environmental Analytical Panel, 03Mar95

  7. Benefits of OH&S 'networking', OH&S Practitioners' Forum, 26Jul95

  8. Methods to improve the safe operation of chemical and fuel road tankers; Safety Award Presentation, Western Safety Group Melbourne, 27th November 2012

  9. Research and recommendations on fume exposure for long-haul truck drivers; Safety Award Presentation, Western Safety Group Melbourne, 27th November 2012

  10. Managing Schedule 7 poisons in the workplace; Safety Award Presentation, Western Safety Group Melbourne,26th November 2013

SPACE EXPLORATION, 2005

What has space got to do with chemistry - review of a presentation by twice Deputy Space Shuttle Commander, Colonel Pamela S Melroy,  USAF & NASA, 07Jul05

 

DANGEROUS GOODS COMPLIANCE, 1989-2005

  1. Dangerous Goods Regulations 1989 - how to comply, Eastern Safety Group of VOHSA, 05Jun90

  2. Dangerous Goods Regulations 1989 - setting the scene, AIMF industry seminar, Melb, 21Jun90

  3. Dangerous Goods Regulations 1989 - setting the scene, AIMF industry seminar, Syd, 26Jun90

  4. Dangerous Goods Regulations - Hazardous Chemicals Task Force - Workplace Hazardous Substances Regulations -What Next?, IEAust/IChemE, 24Sep90

  5. The Dangerous Goods Act - is it the answer?, IFireE, 26Oct90

  6. The Dangerous Goods Act - is it the answer?, Fire Australia, Spring90

  7. Impending Victorian Workplace Substances Legislation, Eastern Safety Group of VOHSA, 05May92

  8. Workplace substances legislation, Northern Region Safety Group, 29Jul92

  9. Worksafe Draft National Standard for Control of Major Hazards, Eastern Safety Group, 06Apr93

  10. Risk assessment, symp Laboratory safety & chemical hazards - Science 2000, Melb Exhib Cntr, 22Sep98

  11. Some words from the chair, Seminar - The new Dangerous Goods and Hazardous Substances Regulations RACI/RiskEngSoc, 23May01

  12. Complying with the Hazardous Substances Regulations, OHS Diploma Course, Chisholm Institute, 02Jun01

  13. Notes from the chair, Seminar - Surviving the new Dangerous Goods Regulations, RACI/RiskEngSoc, 22Nov01

  14. Complying with the Dangerous Goods Regulatory Regime, International Conference of Maintenance Societies, Perth, 20-23May03

  15. Complying with the Victorian Dangerous Goods Regulatory Regime, Safety in Action, Melbourne, 30Mar-01Apr04

  16. Chemical regulatory compliance in laboratories, HSE Group Seminar, RACI, 31Aug05

CASE STUDIES OF SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENTS

Westgate Bridge Collapse of 1970, publications 1995-2008

  1. 25 years after the collapse - is the Westgate Bridge safe?, Construction Contractor, 10 12, Dec95

  2. 25 years after the collapse - is the Westgate Bridge safe?, Safety in Australia, 19 2, 2Jun96

  3. So long after the event - has the Westgate Bridge collapse been properly explained, International Conference of Maintenance Societies, Sydney, 25-27May04

  4. Westgate Review, Extracts from the above paper, New Engineer, Vol 7, Number 3, Aug04

  5. So long after the event - has the Westgate Bridge collapse been properly explained, National Conference of the Risk Engineering Society, Risk 2004, Melbourne, 08-10Nov04

  6. Safe design, construction and maintenance of road bridges, The Safety Conference, Olympic Park, Sydney, 0ct08

      Flixborough Disaster of 1974, publications 1999-2009

  1. Official incident reports, can they be relied upon - Flixborough, joint with Gugan K (UK), proc APCChE/Chemeca int conf, Vol 2, 133-140, 27-29Sep93

  2. The Longford Gas Plant Accident, proc conf Risk99, Dallas Brooks Hall, Melb, 30Aug-01Sep99

  3.  Longford, Flixborough, Coode: you name it and maintenance gets the blame, ICOMS 2000 (Int Conf Maintenance Societies), Wollongong, 25May00; hosted by Maintenance Engineering Soc of Aust

  4. Lees’ Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 3rd Ed, Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann, Vol 3, 2005; A132 Coode Island 1991 p1/63; A2.9 Critiques, Flixborough, Appendix 2, pp2/17-2/18

  5. A deeper analysis of lessons learned from the Coode Island fires, Longford gas plant accident, Flixborough disaster, Goodrich vapour cloud, Butlers fire, United Transport fire and the Buncefield accident, ProSafe, Melbourne, May09

        Coode Island Fires of 1991, publications 1991-2011

  1. Possible cause of the Coode Island incident, Engineers Australia, 18Oct91

  2. Coode Island: vapour recovery to blame ?, The Chemical Engineer, 31Oct91

  3. Coode Island Safety Plans - an example, proc symp 'Coode Island- 12 months on', 31Aug92

  4. The Coode Island Fires - an appraisal of the Coroner's report, proc conf Integrated Risk Assessment, Newcastle, Australia, 163-177, 01-02Jun95; in Integrated Risk Assessment-Current practice and new directions, Melchers R E & Stewart M G, Editors. A A Balkema, 1995

  5. What really happened at Coode Island ?, Seminar - Coode Island 4 years on, RiskEngSoc, 12Sep95

  6. Chemical pollutants and Coode Island, Disaster management and mitigation course, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Melbourne, 03May96

  7. Coode Island - the aftermath, Assoc of Risk and Insurance Managers Australasia, Hilton on the Park,17Jul96

  8. Yes, the Coode Island community consultative process is exciting, proc conf Risk99, Melb, 30Aug-01Sep99

  9. Some words from the chair, Seminar - The cause of the Coode Island fires, Risk Eng Soc, 29Oct99

  10. Longford, Flixborough, Coode: you name it and maintenance gets the blame, ICOMS 2000 (International Conference of Maintenance Societies), Wollongong, 25May00; hosted by Maintenance Engineering Society

  11. The Sham that is Coode Island, Safety in Action, Melbourne, 30Mar-01Apr04

  12. The Sham that is Coode Island, National Conference of the Risk Engineering Society, Risk 2004, Melbourne, 08-10Nov04

  13. Lees’ Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 3rd Ed, Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann, Vol 3, 2005; A132 Coode Island 1991 p1/63; A2.9 Critiques, Flixborough, Appendix 2, pp2/17-2/18

  14. Applying the lessons from the 1991 Coode Island fires, Safety in Action Conference, Mar09

  15. A deeper analysis of lessons learned from the Coode Island fires, Longford gas plant accident, Flixborough disaster, Goodrich vapour cloud incident, Butlers fire, United Transport fire and the Buncefield accident, ProSafe, Melbourne, May09

  16. Applying the lessons from the 1991 Coode Island fires, Risk 2010 Conference, Melb, 11Mar10

  17. The Coode Island Fires - Ian F Thomas, Twentieth Anniversary, August 2011

  18. The Coode Island Fires 20 years on - Applying the lessons, Western Safety Group, Western Centre for Health Research and Education, Sunshine Hospital, 27Mar12

Longford Gas Plant Accident of 1998, publications 1999-2009

  1. The Esso Longford gas plant accident, presentation to the Central Safety Group, 13Jul99

  2. An overview of the Longford accident, presentation to RACI Health Safety & Environment Group, 15Jul99

  3. A lesson too late, editorial review of Longford Royal Commission report, The Chemical Engineer, 19Aug99

  4. The Longford Gas Plant Accident, proc conf Risk99, Dallas Brooks Hall, Melb, 30Aug-01Sep99

  5. Longford, Flixborough, Coode: you name it and maintenance gets the blame, ICOMS 2000 (International Conference of Maintenance Societies), Wollongong, 25May00; hosted by Maintenance Engineering Society

  6. A deeper analysis of lessons learned from the Coode Island fires, Longford gas plant accident, Flixborough disaster, Goodrich vapour cloud incident, Butlers fire, United Transport fire and the Buncefield accident, ProSafe, Melbourne, May09

Buncefied Accident of 2005, publications 2009 and 2012

  1. A deeper analysis of lessons learned from the Coode Island fires, Longford gas plant accident, Flixborough disaster, Goodrich vapour cloud, Butlers fire, United Transport fire and the Buncefield accident, ProSafe, Melbourne, May09

  2. The 2005 UK Buncefield accident - planning ramifications for Australia; Proceedings of the Conference Risk 2012, Hunter Valley NSW, 20-22 September 2012

 

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