Hazard identification is the first step in managing risk. In this step we answer the question: What can go wrong? To know the things which can go wrong is to be half way down the path of managing them. There is no single ideal individual process of hazard identification. The most appropriate system varies to some extent with the type of industry and process.
The choice of hazard identification technique depends on the purpose for which the study is done. For the identification of hazards and operating problems on a plant, for example, a hazard and operability (HAZOP) study is suitable, while for the identification of sources of release for a hazard assessment it is necessary to carry out a specific review of such sources. Hazard Identification is typically achieved through one or a combination of following studies:
- Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP)
- Safety Integrity Level (SIL)
- Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA)
- Safety Audits
- Coarse Hazard Studies
- What If? Analysis
- Event Tree and Fault Tree Analysis
- Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis
- Human Error Analysis
- Operational and Emergency Scenario Development Assessment
- Process Safety Review
