A team is neither necessary nor required (this is true for 95% of the LOPA we have done since 1996). If the PHA/HAZOP was documented well, a single analyst can complete the LOPA in about 20-60 minutes; with a phone call or two to a team member for some of the LOPA. The originators (or 2/3 of us) do not recommend a team. The single analyst is described in the LOPA book (CCPS, 2001), with a team being mentioned as required for some confusing scenarios. It is best of the LOPA analyst was the PHA/HAZOP team leader. The analyst should have excellent background in human factors (the real key to risk analysis since system human errors dominate the risk factors) and he/she should be trained in actual LOPA (per the textbook rules; and later per the rules of the IPL/IE book coming out this spring), not some third-party made up version of LOPA. So, 20+ years experience in plant operations and engineering, with an engineering degree (Chem Eng preferred), and with proven analytical skills… essentially the same skills/experience we want in PHA/HAZOP leaders.
By Bill Bridges|2013-04-23T04:05:25-07:00February 27th, 2012|Uncategorized|Comments Off on LOPA Team?
About the Author: Bill Bridges
William G. (Bill) Bridges is President of the Process Improvement Institute (PII). He has over 40 years of experience, including more than 30 in senior management and senior PSM advisory roles. Bill is considered one of the leading authorities on process safety engineering, risk management, and human error prevention.
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