Uses and Benefits in Various Industries

The technique described above is only a minor modification of the standard HAZOP technique used and taught in DNV and in many other companies. The major change is more thorough recording of the work already being undertaken by many HAZOP teams, to ensure that this work does not need to be repeated by them or others to meet the new legislative requirements.

HAZOP Studies have been used by the chemical and petrochemical industries for two decades as their primary safety review methodology. Although Europe took the lead in this area USA has made very significant progress in the last ten years.

Other high risk industries were slower to adopt the technique, due to the 'not invented here' syndrome. However, recent advances have occurred in transportation industries, initially for hazardous goods transportation, but later in some pioneering areas. Train cleaning activities, for example have been studied using the 'Procedures HAZOP' technique, and work on station cleaning is also under way.

Electricity generation has also been studied by HAZOP, where special guidewords were required. Similarly a modified technique has been developed and used for study of well drilling and work-over operations, where a combination of hardware and procedures techniques were necessary.

Mining companies are now starting to use HAZOP, and a range of high-hazard activities are under the spotlight. These range from people moving operations such as trains, chair-lifts and elevators to mining processes including blasting, ore transportation, processing and back-fill operations. The challenge will be to move into the 'software' areas, and start to tackle the risks inherent in many of the routine tasks in a mine.

The benefits of this working method to all involved are not only in the improvements in safety that we can expect after implementing the recommendations. Most companies undertaking studies of this kind, find that the study costs are balanced by the improvements in productivity they gain as a result of the many operability recommendations generated. However, even this is not the end of the balance sheet. The intangible benefits which arise from involving people at all levels and from all backgrounds, in studies of this type often lead to significant attitude improvements amongst the workforce. This can be the beginning of a culture change process, and when HAZOP takes its place as an integral part of a Loss Control Management system, that process can reach its full potential.