2017 Spring Meeting and 13th Global Congress on Process Safety
(14c) Process Hazard Analysis – Are Studies in Itself Good Enough to Reduce Risk?
Author
More detailed evaluation shows there are several common challenges in the industry in regards to PHA:
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Initial PHA done by project team without involving operations resulting in an incomplete assessment
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Process Technology or Process Safety Information not handed over by the project team to the operations team or the information is not kept up to date
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HAZOP considered as the beginning and end of PHA
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PHA outputs not considered in designing the remaining PSM elements. For example, emergency scenarios are not developed based on hazard analysis and the mechanical integrity or asset integrity program is not in line with the operational risks identified
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PHA not done periodically or when there are changes in process and/or equipment resulting in increase of potential unmitigated risks
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Lack of Rigor in implementing PHA recommendations
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PHA conducted without consideration to both major internal and external incidents, and
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Not considering PHA in the early stages of project design.
This paper will cover the importance of risk recognition and governance and common gaps observed in Process Hazard Analysis using specific examples from different industry sectors.