TECHNICAL PROCESS SAFETY
Technical and Process Safety are terms used to describe safety requirements in the design, operation, and handling of hazardous substances in the Process Industry.
As an aspect of Technical Safety, Hazop sessions are usually conducted in compliance with IEC 61882:2017 (Hazard and Operability Studies Application Guide). The multi-disciplinary session involves safety assessment, hazard identification, and the establishment of engineering/safety solutions (safeguards) to adequately mitigate those identified risks. HAZOP can be carried out on an entirely new system or upgrade an existing process system.
Using the guidewords as aid, Hazop identifies potential hazards associated with all aspects of a given operation; presenting conclusive recommendations.
Also Read: Introduction to Technical Safety
Why do Process Industries need HAZOP Procedures?
Just as test running a system, HAZOP Procedures take an overview of the design system and identifies the hazards associated with operations understudy, one step at a time. A Hazop ensures that all risks involved in a process operation are identified and provided with adequate safety measures for risk mitigation.
Hazop procedures are conducted in the following sequential order:
- Introduction and training;
- System Description;
- Selecting Nodes;
- Description & Design Intent;
- Examining Deviations;
- Identifying Causes;
- Evaluating Consequences;
- Considering Safeguards;
- Generating Recommendations
As an illustration, let’s assume that for a Production Plant P&ID XXX, selected as Node 1 has a spectacle blind number 2″-GL-A101-1500-020-00 understudy. We examine a Deviation; No Flow and a Cause; Inadvertent Closure of the spec blind was identified. This will lead to Consequences 1 -3, No Production for High-Pressure Rupture, Loss of Content, LOC, Fire, and Explosion.
Also Read: Importance of Technical Safety
For the consequences mentioned above, a risk level is calculated using the 4 x 4 risk matrix method globally accepted and adopted by the team. Because of the probability of the event (cause) to occur and associated high risk, a Safeguard would be considered whether or not it exists in the design. Finally, Recommendations will be made to mitigate those risks that were identified.
The aim is to provide a process system/plant with safety measures put in place to mitigate and bring safety risks to ALARP.
At the end of the session, the HAZOP workshop register and a comprehensive Report containing design information including changes or elements agreed to for the closing of the HAZOP recommendations will be presented to the project management team for implementation.
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