Hazard and Operability Study

Abstract

Safety and reliability of chemical process plants are such important issues, they deserve the best techniques to prevent problems occurring. To minimize risks resulted from operating problems and hazardous events, process system safety and reliability analysis is often employed. This is a rigorous approach undertaken to improve system reliability and safety. The approach consists of three main tasks; hazard identification, risk estimation, and risk control. The first task is crucial in process system safety analysis, because the effectiveness of the other two tasks depends on it. The technique of hazard and operability (HAZOP) study is a systematic approach to identifying most potential hazards and operating problems. The technique in contrast to the traditional methods is simple, creative, and flexible.