Layer of protection analysis as auxiliary technique in process safety incident investigations

Abstract

AbstractThis work demonstrates the usefulness in using layer of protection analysis (LOPA) concept as an auxiliary technique in process safety incident investigations. It allows the investigation team to go further in causal analysis, by identifying and exploring the role played by each layer of protection in the incident, looking for “holes” as findings (causes) to use in the investigation process. This approach achieves better quality investigations, with more accurate lessons learned, and recommendations, as well as developing a clearer way to communicate what happened. This approach helps anyone who reads the incident report understand and learn about the process safety incident. Moreover, it provides a clearer way to communicate what happened, helping everyone who sees the incident report to understand and learn about how the process safety incident evolved from process deviation going thru the layers of protection up to the emergency response. At the same time, it shows what a process safety incident is in a much more suitable and understandable way, which emphasizes the process safety point of view, impacting in the organization process safety culture.