HAZOP

 

A Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) is a systematic process for identifying potential hazards and operational problems in an industrial process: 

Purpose

To identify hazards to people, equipment, or the environment, as well as operational problems that could affect efficiency

When to perform

Typically performed when new facilities are being designed and constructed, when new processes are added, or when processes change 

How it's performed

A small team of experts breaks down each step of a process and uses a systematic approach to identify potential deviations from the original design 

What's considered

Technical and organizational hazards, potential human error, and external influences 

What's produced

An assessment of the possible causes, worst credible consequences, and existing safeguards for each hazardous scenario 

What's recommended

Recommendations for decreasing the likelihood of an incident or decreasing the severity of the consequences if an incident occurs 

HAZOP studies are time-consuming and require careful planning and sufficient time and funds. The actual time required for a HAZOP study depends on many factors, including the skill and experience of the team, the size of the process, and the complexity of the nodes and process.