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Hazard and operability (HAZOP) studies

HAZOP is used during the design stages of a new process or project, for major process modifications, and for periodic review of existing operations. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as well as other regulators around the world, recognizes the HAZOP technique as an acceptable methodology for evaluating risk.
he quality and effectiveness of the HAZOP study depends on the leader’s experience with the HAZOP technique, as well as with the process being analyzed, with process-control systems, and with unit operations in general. Our large team of highly qualified HAZOP leaders and process-safety experts has facilitated numerous HAZOP-based PHA’s worldwide, in virtually all sectors of the process and processing industries.
We can facilitate HAZOPs, and other types of PHAs, in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Hindi and other languages. Our worldwide presence helps ensure intimate knowledge of local codes, standards, and cultures. Combined with our expertise in process safety engineering, extensive laboratory and large-scale testing capabilities, interpretation of test results, and ready access to process safety data, our HAZOP capability is unrivalled in our market.

Your Benefits

  • Minimizing the risk of hazardous substances and energy being emitted
  • Reducing the consequences of a release of the hazardous substances
  • Identification of non-obvious hazards

Our Approach

We begin our semi-quantitative HAZOP risk analysis with a review of the available Process Safety Information (PSI) and identification of missing PSI required to support our analysis. The HAZOP study would involve the following procedure:
  • Establishing the “Design Intent” for the process, including the desired and/or safe ranges for each of the operating parameters
  • Applying the Guide Words (No, Less, More, Reverse, etc.) to each of the Process Parameters (Temperature, Pressure, Flow, Level, etc.), to identify deviations from the design intent
  • Determining if the control system and emergency systems are adequate and are sufficiently reliable to prevent each deviation - in the form of an initiating event and enabling conditions - from escalating to an undesirable process incident
  • Estimating the severity of the consequences of each undesired incident, taking into account mitigation safeguards and conditional factors. Consequences can be further evaluated using our expertise in consequence modeling with specialist software such as PHAST® and Effects®
  • Estimating the likelihood of occurrence of each undesired incident
  • Utilizing a Risk Matrix to determine the relative risks of the undesired incidents
  • Comparing the risk of occurrence for each incident with corporate guidelines for process risk
  • Determining the number and types of safeguards and/or process improvements that would be needed to reduce the risks to tolerable levels
Our process safety specialist’s report will present the HAZOP team’s recommendations and suggestions for improvements to the process, based on the site’s experience and on recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices. Following the receipt of comments from the client, a final report is issued.

Applications

The Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) study is the most widely used Process Hazards Analysis (PHA) technique in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, oil and gas, nuclear, and other process industries worldwide.

Team Approach

HAZOP is a brainstorming exercise in which individuals from different disciplines participate. It is vital for the HAZOP team to be limited in size (ideally six people or fewer, excluding the HAZOP facilitator and, if there is one, the HAZOP secretary). It is difficult to establish a maximum and minimum number of participants in a HAZOP, since the various functions necessary may be assumed in different ways in different organizations. Nevertheless, and as a very general criterion, it is safe to say that a HAZOP with fewer than three participants (excluding the HAZOP facilitator and secretary) cannot generate sufficient and meaningful discussion.

Why DEKRA?

  • We assess the reliability of your process controls as well as the number and type of risk mitigation measures required.
  • We are technical experts for HAZOPs, combined with our competence in process safety technology.
  • We have a global presence; therefore, we are trained in local regulations, standards and cultures.
  • We can support HAZOPs and other types of PHAs in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Hindi and other languages.
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