Safety Engineer how-to
How to Lead a HAZOP Session
HAZOPs uncover what can go wrong in a process before it does.
Quick answer
HAZOPs uncover what can go wrong in a process before it does. In short: assemble; divide; apply, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
Assemble a team with operations, engineering and maintenance experience.
Divide the process into nodes on the drawings.
Apply guide words, such as more, less or no, to each parameter.
Identify causes and consequences of each deviation.
List existing safeguards and recommend new ones.
Record actions with owners and due dates.
Safety reminders for safety engineers
- Follow all site safety rules and PPE requirements during field visits
- Never bypass safety systems during testing
- Verify energy isolation before inspecting equipment
- Report hazards immediately
Key terms
HAZOP · FMEA · PSM · Management of change (MOC) · Layer of protection analysis (LOPA) · Safety instrumented system (SIS): see the full safety engineer glossary.