HAZOP How to make them less boring?
HAZOP How to make them less boring?
(OP)
HAZOP study was "invented" some 30 years ago to see whether modifications to an existing plant could affect safety of the plant. Typical example would be that as a result of addition of a blockvalve in line between two vessels, first vessel would not be protected by safety valve on second vessel.
In these cases, HAZOP study would take only a couple of hours or days.
Because of the succes of the method (and because of some major accidents), method was later also applied to complete new plants. Consequence was that HAZOP could now take up to several months.
In my opinion, quality of the HAZOP study largely depends on the motivation of the participants.
My questions are:
Do you have suggestions on how to keep team members fresh and motivated during a HAZOP that takes several weeks or months?
Could it be considered to HAZOP only parts of the plant, e.g. only HAZOP areas that are significantly different from other similar plants or only HAZOP high risk areas of the plant?
In these cases, HAZOP study would take only a couple of hours or days.
Because of the succes of the method (and because of some major accidents), method was later also applied to complete new plants. Consequence was that HAZOP could now take up to several months.
In my opinion, quality of the HAZOP study largely depends on the motivation of the participants.
My questions are:
Do you have suggestions on how to keep team members fresh and motivated during a HAZOP that takes several weeks or months?
Could it be considered to HAZOP only parts of the plant, e.g. only HAZOP areas that are significantly different from other similar plants or only HAZOP high risk areas of the plant?





RE: HAZOP How to make them less boring?
Don't HAZOP things like utility distribution drawings
Avoid duplication by managing the process properly, its OK to write "covered above under node 3, deviation 2, cause 3 (3.2.3)
Use the best software. We use PHA-Pro.
Many participants in HAZOPs which I facilitate tell me they enjoyed the process and learned a lot.
HAZOP at www.curryhydrocarbons.ca
RE: HAZOP How to make them less boring?
RE: HAZOP How to make them less boring?
-Reduce team size to the minimum (no "politically elected" Team members)
-dont solve problems, dont turn it into a design review
-Limit hr. pr. day to a resonable no (8 incl pauses)
-Select an outside location (e.g. a hotel) with supply of a good lunch, fruit etc.
Best regards
Morten
RE: HAZOP How to make them less boring?
Take two asprin and drink plenty of water...
RE: HAZOP How to make them less boring?
"Reduce team size to the minimum (no "politically elected" Team members)"
On one of my first HAZOPs there were a couple of those. Even members that don't open their mouth at all make the meetings more formal (==> less open discussions) than when the team would have been smaller. Even worse are those that seem to be part of the team just to prevent getting any recommendations that may jeopardize the project schedule...
But of course, it takes some courage to say to a client representative that he/she should not join the HAZOP team...
In my opinion, HAZOP team (incl. chairman and scribe) should not be larger than 7 or 8 people.
RE: HAZOP How to make them less boring?
They must be able to know when to move things along and know when it is important to focus an issues.
Always cater for it as well!