Identification of Hazards and Other Problems

HAZOP Studies use a set of appropriate guidewords in a structured brainstorming approach to identify hazards and operability problems. It goes without saying that the quality of the team is of paramount importance in determining how well the exercise goes. The HAZOP methodology, used properly, has the objective of identifying all significant problems.^[1]

Hazard identification can be carried out following two basic approaches, and to be sure that everything has been found we need to follow both. The first is a 'hardware' based approach, and the second a 'software' based approach. The first is the traditional preserve of the HAZOP study, where the process is directed by use or engineering drawings or schematic drawings which show all the 'hardware' in use. The second is often initiated via task analysis, and involves selection of those 'critical tasks' which have the potential for exposure to significant hazard or loss. This approach too can benefit from the HAZOP technique, by subjecting the resulting written procedure or work practice to a HAZOP study using appropriate guidewords. This type of study allows us not only to identify potential causes of human error, but also to anticipate such errors, and build in opportunities to recover from them.