Process Safety Progress, Vol.20, No.3, 189-195, 2001
Process hazard analyses of control and instrument systems
The OSHA process safely management (PSM) and EPA risk management program (PMP) standards require that process hazards analyses (PHAs) be performed on processes that contain listed toxic or flammable chemicals. A number of PHA techniques are listed in both standards that can be used to satisfy this requirement. Typical PHA studies use analysis techniques, such as hazard and operability (HAZOP), what-if, and checklists, to review, potential hazards, such as deviations from normal process conditions of flow, temperature, pressure, etc. The influences of control and instrument system failures on process system safety are usually considered indirectly,. This paper reviews some of tbe considerations needed to conduct a PHA that includes control and instrument. system failures. Information on (1) how, to organize the review analysis team, (2) what type of documentation is needed, and (3) the special considerations needed in a control and instrument system review, are included in this paper. The wide use of advanced programmable and electronic systems in the chemical process industry introduces a number of special considerations that must also be included in a review,. These considerations are also discussed in this paper.