Design-safety enhancement through the use of hazard and risk analysis

The application of qualitative and quantitative hazards/risk analysis methods is discussed. Two examples of both qualitative and quantitative methods are discussed. The relative advantages of each, as well as relative manpower requirements for their application, are examined. The two qualitative analysis examples are: (1) hazards and operability (HAZOP) analysis, based on the conceptual design analysis of an offshore gas-processing platform, and (2) a qualitative fault-tree analysis based on a design review of a land-based oil-processing facility. The two quantitative analysis examples are: (1) the use of event sequence diagrams for the risk analysis of a batch chemical-operation plant, and (2) an event-tree analysis relative to the consequences of the loss of electric power for the same batch plant. In these examples, design operations and maintenance-safety enhancements that have been implemented are identified