What is a PHAone™ Software?
PHAone (HAZOP) software (Hazard and Operability Study) is a tool for team-based risk analysis and hazard identification. It is used in chemical processing and nuclear power plants by HAZOP team leaders, process designers, equipment operators, and other specialists to determine deviations and manage their risk.
A PHA study is a detailed process carried out by a dedicated team to identify risks and operability problems. HAZOP studies deal with the identification of potential deviations from the design intent, examination of their possible causes and assessment of their consequences.
PHAone software team created software that also records studies automatically. Your studies are saved and easily exported to the XLS file so that you can make a report.
Where to Use PHAone™ Applications?
Originally a HAZOP study was a technique developed for systems involving the treatment of a fluid medium or other material flow in the process industries where it is now a major element of Process safety management. However, its area of application has steadily widened in recent years and includes usage for:
- Software applications including programmable electronic systems
- Systems involving the movement of people by transport modes such as road, rail, and air
- Examining different operating sequences and procedures
- Assessing administrative procedures in different industries
- Assessing specific systems, for example medical devices
- Software and code development
- Assessing proposed organizational change and defining the mechanisms to achieve those changes
- Testing and improving draft contracts and other legal documents
- Testing and improving documents including instructions and procedures for critical activities
Key Features of a PHAone™ Software
Aside from HAZOP software, a variety of digital tools can function as a HAZOP solution. It includes safety management software, risk management software, environment, business, safety, or combined of this PHAone software. As long as you can deliver the capabilities of a comprehensive hazard and operational analysis, they should work. The most important thing is that these software programs should have the following features:
- Node identification
- Deviation selection
- Risk identification
- Risk matrix
- Risk analysis
- Risk assessment
- Safeguards
- Recommendations
- Action Plan
- Residual risk level
- Connected with LOPA Study
- Cloud-based technology
- Reporting functionality
- Adjustable workflows
- Insightful analytics
- Collaboration capability
- Highly customizable
- Seamless integration
- User-friendly
The study is a creative process that proceeds by systematically using a series of guide words to identify potential deviations from the design intent and employing these to stimulate team members to envisage how the deviation might occur and what might be the consequences.
The study is carried out under the guidance of a trained and experienced study leader, who has to ensure comprehensive coverage of the system under study, using logical, analytical thinking. The study leader is preferably assisted by a recorder who records pertinent data associated with identified risks and/or operational disturbances for risk analysis, evaluation and treatment.
The study relies on specialists from various disciplines with appropriate skills and experience who display intuition and good judgment.
The study should be conducted in a frank and open atmosphere of critical thinking.
A PHA study produces minutes or software to record the deviations, their causes, consequences, and recommended actions together with marked-up drawings, documents, or other system representations that indicate the associated minute number and, where possible, the recommended action.
Developing risk treatment actions for identified risks or operability problems is not a primary objective of the PHA examination, but recommendations should be made where appropriate and recorded for consideration by those responsible for the system's design.
The initial PHA study might be done progressively so that design changes can be incorporated, but the completed PHA study has to correlate to the final design intent.
Existing PHA studies should be reviewed at regular intervals (recommended two years, four years, six years) to evaluate whether there have been any changes to the design intent or hazards during other life cycle stages, such as the enhancement stage.
References: IEC 61882:2016 Hazard and operability studies (HAZOP studies) - Application guide; CCPS Guidelines for Hazard Evaluation Procedures, 3rd Edition; IChemE HAZOP Guide to Best Practice, 3rd Edition;