HAZOP

Hazard and Operability Study

 Definitions
Hazard : Source or situation with a potential
for harm in terms of human injury or ill health,
damage to property, damage to the workplace
environment, or a combination of these.

Hazard Identification : Process of

recognizing that a hazard exists and defining
its characteristics.
 Hazard Potential
Factors for preliminary evaluation of risk &
hazard potential of process unit:
Uncontrolled exothermic reaction
Loss of containment
Ignition sources
Corrosion & erosion
Contamination
Size and layout of equipment
Cascade effect due to adjacent facilities

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 Hazard - Definition
It is a physical situation with a potential for
human injury, damage to property, damage to
environment or some combination of these.
Hazard is the characteristic of a system / plant
/ process that presents potential for an
accident.
All components of a plant/process need to be
Checked to assess their potential for initiating
or, propagating an unplanned event or
sequence of events resulting in an accident.
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 What is HAZOP Study ?
Danger always exists that some part of a
process (new or existing) Will not behave in
the intended manner.
That such a deviation could have a serious
effect on other parts of the process.
The technique designed to study deviations
from intentions is known as HAZOP Study.
HAZOP Study is Not:
A design check or to provide design
alternative
Find solutions, but identify problems
Optimisation study
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 Why HAZOP
Hazards result from unexpected
interaction of seemingly safe
component or methods of operation
under exceptional conditions.
Individual specialist checking improves
design / system.
But it is unlikely to detect hazards
concerned with multifunctional
interactions.

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Study of such interactions require :
Combination of skilled experts and a
trained group.
Depth of knowledge.
Informed imagination
To examine a system.

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 Applications of HAZOP

Technique is very flexible & can be used

for

Existing processes & operations, both

continuous and batch

New projects

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 Specific Applications
Modification of existing operations
Repeat design
Hazop of an existing plant
Operating procedures
Computer - controlled processes
Pilot plant & laboratory operations
Commissioning & de-commissioning
Construction & demolition
Contract operations

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 Specific Applications

The technique is extremely User-

friendly
Can be used to examine
New as well as existing designs
Operating procedures
Safety of existing facilities

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 Key Factors for Preparatory Work
Team composition
Multi-disciplinary
Knowledge & expertise
Involvement
Up to 5 technical members
Study Leader
Independent body
Knowledgeable
Capacity to control discussion and guide the
systematic questioning procedure

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 Key Factors for Preparatory
Work
Obtaining up-to-date data
Planning the sequence of study
Arranging meetings
No interruptions
Regular short breaks to avoid mental
fatigue

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 Principles of Examination

Systematically focus questions to every

part of a process as per planned
sequence
Formulate questions using guide words
Progress to next part plant
Repeat to cover whole terms used
frequently.

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 Terms Used

Intention : How a plant is expected to

operate
Deviation : Departures from intentions.
Causes : Reasons For deviation (if
conceivable or realistic then it is
meaningful)
Guide words : Sample words used to
Qualify intention
Stimulate creative thinking process
Discover deviations
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Guide words Meanings Comments
No or not Complete negation of No part of intention
intentions achieved, nothing
else happens
More Quantitative increases or Refers to quantities
Less Decreases (flow, temperature,
levels)
As well as Qualitative increase Intentions achieved
with some additional
activity
Some intentions are
Part of Qualitative decrease achieved, some not
Reverse Logical opposite of Such as reverse flow
intentions or chemical reaction
Other than Complete substitution Something quite
different to original
intention

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 A Typical Worksheet Format

Intent : (State the intent here); State Safeguards

Available in the Existing System

Guide Deviation Possible Consequ Recomm

Word Cause ence endation

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 Sequence
Apply guide word and
Identify deviations
Identify causes
List consequences
List existing safeguards available
Make recommendation if hazard is
significant or relevant (and record with
cause).

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THANK YOU