The Hazards Next Door: Streamlining PHAs in Utilities and Ancillaries

Abstract

Almost every industrial process has ancillary and utility processes to deliver essential energy and maintain stable conditions for uninterrupted, optimal performance. While potential interruptions in these systems are often considered within the main process PHA, the specific risks and reliability of utility and ancillary processes are evaluated inconsistently across companies and industries. This session will present a case study on a streamlined hazard analysis methodology that provides a thorough risk assessment for utility and ancillary processes without requiring the extensive resources of a full HAZOP study.

This methodology employs a dual approach: a checklist aligned with Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices (RAGAGEP), combined with a targeted what-if analysis to assess and address any identified reliability and safety gaps. The checklist ensures that system design meets RAGAGEP standards, while the what-if component evaluates specific risks and confirms that adequate safeguards are in place.

The data gathered through this streamlined approach is compared to outcomes from full-scale hazard assessments, demonstrating effective hazard identification, risk mitigation, and resource efficiency. This presentation will illustrate how companies can adopt this method to achieve comprehensive safety insights with significantly reduced effort and cost.