HAZOP

Traditionally, safety in the design of chemical plants relied on the application of codes and checklists based on the experience and knowledge of company staff. Unfortunately, such an approach can only cope with problems that have arisen before.

With the increasing complexity of modern plant these traditional approaches are likely to miss important issues that could be eliminated at the design phase of a project. Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOPs) were developed as a technique to systematically and rigorously identify potential hazards and operability problems with new designs of both batch and continuous processes. HAZOP can also be applied to modifications or to review existing plant.

HAZOP studies are a structured critical examination of processes carried out by an experienced team in order to identify all possible deviations from a design intent, along with the consequences regarding safety, operability and the environment. HAZOP has become best practise worldwide following the disasters of Flixborough, Seveso and Bhopal.

HSD has many years of experience in HAZOP Studies, providing leaders, secretaries and team members. HSD has also presented public and in-house training courses on the HAZOP methodology.

HSD can provide a range of HAZOP services including:

• HAZOP preparation
• Independent HAZOP leader
• HAZOP secretary
• Production of HAZOP report and Action list
• Review of HAZOP study
• HAZOP training

However, HAZOP may not always be the most appropriate HAZID technique to use, e.g for low hazard processes as it has a heavy demand on company resources. It is therefore just as important to know when to use HAZOP as when not to use it. HSD can advise if HAZOP is the most appropriate technique for your particular application or suggest a more suitable one.

For all your HAZOP Requirements contact HSD.