Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOP)
Overview
A hazard and operability study (HAZOP) is a structured and systematic examination of a complex planned or existing process or operation.
A HAZOP conducted by trained and experienced hazard engineering professionals like ARINT International serves to identify and evaluate problems that may represent risks to personnel or equipment. It examines the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and business risk of ‘active’ and ‘potential’ Damage Mechanisms (DMs) to assess and rank the probability and consequences of failure.
The HAZOP technique is qualitative, and is used to identify deviations from normal safe operation which could lead to hazards, environmental or safety/health concerns, and infrastructure and/or operability/maintenance problems. The HAZOP study also includes appropriate remedial measures.
The goals and benefits of HAZOP
HAZOP is a well-known and widely-documented method of assessing the integrity of design or procedures in terms of safety and operability.
A hazard and operability study (HAZOP) is a more detailed review technique than hazard identification (HAZID), as HAZID merely aims to identify potential hazards and threats that may affect people, the environment, and assets.
The purpose of a HAZOP is to identify and investigate how the system or plant deviates from the original design intent, and to assess how this deviation creates risk and operability problems for personnel and equipment. HAZOP studies have been used with great success in large industries such as Power Generation, Manufacturing and Mining houses in order to obtain safer, more efficient, and more reliable plants.
HAZOP by ARINT International
ARINT International is a South African-based International Professional Engineering Services company. Our customers are mainly large international companies, service organisations and utilities, which means that we have extensive experience in the field of technical safety.
ARINT International also has wide-ranging experience in the conduction of hazard and operability studies. We have conducted various HAZOPs as part of the design process of plants, and in order to assess the operations of existing procedures.
We provide Technical Risk Assessments using either ‘top down’ or ‘bottom-up’ approaches in accordance with internationally-accepted techniques.
ARINT International can conduct hazard and operability studies as either an independent risk analysis or a preliminary study and modification. We also provide vital training in Risk-Based Inspections and HAZOP procedures.