HAZOP

HAZOP stands for HAZard and OPerability Study. The HAZOP study is a well-known method used to identify dangers and undesirable situations in industrial installations, and is more and more frequently used in e.g. the pharmaceutical and foodstuffs industries.

The aim of a HAZOP study is to make risks controllable. The study is carried out by a multidisciplinary team led by an experienced team leader. A HAZOP study is carried out on a chemical or physical process or on actions performed. The focus is on process risks in the first case, and on human error in the second case.

When is a HAZOP study carried out?

HAZOP studies are carried out at varying stages of a project.

Preliminary study

Since it is still relatively easy (i.e. low-cost) to make changes to the design early on in a project, we recommend carrying out a preliminary study as soon as the main outlines of the process are known.

Follow-up study

A follow-up study is carried out after all details of the design have been completed. The results of the preliminary study can be verified in the follow-up study. Since more detailed information is then available, the study can be carried out in the required depth.

HAZOP study on existing installations

The HAZOP study is a valuable tool for existing installations as well. There is a frequent lack of essential background information on e.g. pressure safety or safety systems. The HAZOP study seeks out this background information and enables the measures taken to be verified. In addition, numerous minor changes are made to an installation over time. Individual changes are often assessed separately despite the fact that they may interact with one another, but a HAZOP study can trace these interactions. Experience gained over time from working with the relevant installation is another important factor here.

Step-by-step plan for a HAZOP study

The first step in a HAZOP study is to identify potential risks. To do this, “guide words” are used to guide the study team when locating situations which could give rise to a dangerous or otherwise undesirable situation.

The team then determines what the negative effects might be in terms of people, costs and the environment. This is used as a basis to establish priorities for the inherently safer design of the installation, or to set requirements concerning the reliability of measures. For example, if a safety system is used, this is expressed in a target Safety Integrity Level.
It is always important to establish the starting points to be used. This may result in e.g. requirements and priorities being set for maintenance of certain systems on the basis of a HAZOP study.

HAZOP experts

D&F has exactly the right experts on HAZOP, who can help you carry out your HAZOP study by providing guidance and coaching. But if you’d rather outsource the entire HAZOP study, we will be happy to carry out the study for you. We also give a one-day HAZOP training course that can put you on the right road to doing it yourself.

  • Click here for the latest course information and more information on our HAZOP training course. 
  • If you’d like to find out more about a HAZOP study, click here to download the D&F White Paper on HAZOP & Process Safety.
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