Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies & Process Hazard Assessments (PHA)
Process Hazard Assessment (PHA) is a set of organised and systematic assessments of the potential hazards associated with an industrial process. A PHA can provide information intended to assist in making decisions for improving safety and reducing the consequences of unwanted or unplanned releases of hazardous chemicals. A PHA is often directed toward analysing potential causes and consequences of undesirable events and it focuses on equipment, instrumentation, utilities, human actions, and external factors that might impact the process.
PHA methods are qualitative in nature. The selection of a methodology to use depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of the process, the length of time a process has been in operation and if a PHA has been conducted on the process before, and if the process is unique, or industrially common.
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Methods of Process Hazard Assessment
There are a variety of methodologies that can be used to conduct a PHA, including but not limited to:
– Checklist;
– What if?;
– Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP);
– Hazard Identification (HAZID);
– Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
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FSES Typical HAZOP Workflow
The following workflow provides a typical guide on structuring the hazard assessment or quantitative risk assessment workshop.
FAQ’s
What inputs are required by FSES in order to conduct the PHA Study?
As a minimum the following information would be required in order to conduct the workshop:
– Existing PHA / HAZOP report (if available)
– P&ID’s
– Cause and Effects Diagrams
– Facilities Design
– Operating Data and Procedures
– Maintenance Data and Procedures
– Interlock List
– Equipment Data Sheet
Based on the project requirements, additional information may be required, which will be highlighted within the Terms of Reference (ToR).
Who is required to attend the PHA Workshop?
As a minimum the following personnel would be required in order to conduct the workshop:
– Process Engineer
– Controls and Instrumentation Engineer
– Process Safety Engineer
– Maintenance representative
– Operations representative
Based on the project requirements, additional personnel may be required to attend the workshop, which will be highlighted within the ToR.
What is the expected output of the PHA Study?
On award of the study FSES will issue a project ToR, which will highlight the assumptions that shall be made in the study, along with the workshop details, methodology and data sources that will be utilised as well as any further information required from the client.
Upon acceptance of the ToR, FSES will facilitate the PHA study through a workshop providing the facilitator and scribe. Once the workshop has been conducted FSES will prepare a PHA report describing the facility, the scope of work, a detailed methodology, the PHA worksheets, a summary of the PHA actions and any recommendations based on the discussions during the workshop. FSES highly recommend that following on from the PHA study, a SIL Determination analysis is conducted in order to determine the SIL requirements for the SIF’s identified during the workshop.
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Why FSES?
FSES are a globally renowned facilitators of Process Hazard Assessment studies having facilitated 100’s of hours of PHA studies, with a team of TUV Rheinland certified Functional Safety Engineers available for facilitation. FSES can facilitate PHA studies using various methodologies such as HAZOP’s, HAZID’s, What If’s etc. For more information, or to discuss your needs for conducting a PHA study, please contact us using the form below or email info@fses.global.