Overview
The HazOp is a powerful tool to use as part of the overall assessment of a product's safety and to ensure suitability for purpose by identifying potential hazards and operability problems caused by deviations from the design intent of elements within the system.

The HazOp procedure involves taking a full description of a process and systematically questioning every part of it to establish how deviations from the design intent can arise. Once identified, an assessment is made as to whether such deviations and their consequences can have a negative effect upon the safe and efficient operation of the equipment. As required, action is then taken to remedy the situation. The systematic analysis is implemented through the use of keywords to focus the attention of the team upon deviations and their possible causes. These keywords are divided into two sub-sets: Primary Keywords which focus attention upon a particular aspect of the design intent or an associated process condition or parameter and Secondary Keywords which, when combined with a Primary Keyword, suggest possible deviations. For example, Flow/No the design intent does not occur or Isolate/No the operational aspect is not achieved.

The flow diagram which follows shows this iterative process, applying in a structured and systematic way the relevant keyword combinations in order to identify potential problems.

 

HazOp Process
The process can be very insightful as it encourages the team to consider less obvious means for deviation, otherwise unlikely to have been considered, and can often result in better understanding of equipment combinations that result in better designs for the future.

HazOp Services
Our approach is to use tried and tested templates for the HazOp study. As part of this study:

•  We will prepare a preliminary spreadsheet for review with the project engineers that defines the nodes and initiates assessment based on the equipment P&ID. 
• Provide Team Leadership to the review team working through the spreadsheet.
• Provide the scribe function ensuring the document captures the relevant details by node and all comments and discussions during the review process
• Guide an assessment of the likelihood of an event and examine the safety and financial implications of the event using a rating system
• Prepare a report of the HazOp process that will include the study details and ranked safety and financial implications

Following this initial study, and any actions that are taken as a consequence, the events may be re-assessed for likelihood, safety and cost post action to ensure they then pose acceptable risk. This activity can be performed by the customer or facilitated by HMT Controls if required.

 

Note: It must be understood that whilst HMT Controls can conduct the HazOp by preparing the document, leading the study at the customer site and creating the final HazOp report, the final assessment of safety and whether the equipment is suitable for the intended market remains the customers' responsibility.