A considerable number of safety reviews are carried out during the life of a plant. Some of these, particularly HAZOP, have become key milestones during project development and some are virtually mandatory in order to demonstrate successful safety management of a project and plant. This study relates the timing of safety reviews to the stages in a project hazard analysis methods, risk assessment methods, process safety sociotechnical system reviews and safety audits. It then examines how these are applied, considering the incident scenario and the various viewpoints of the different specialists involved throughout the life of the plant from conception to closure.