unexpected interaction of seemingly safe components or methods of operation under

exceptional conditions. If it is wished to study such interactions in new designs, the combined
skill of a group of experts is required. Their total knowledge and informed imagination can be
used to anticipate whether the plant will operate as intended under all possible
circumstances.
Essentially the examination procedure takes a full description of the process, systematically
questions every part of it to discover how deviations from the intention of the design can
occur and decides whether these deviations can give rise to hazards.
The questioning is focused in turn on every part of the design. Each part is subjected to a
number of questions formulated around a number of guide words which are derived from
method study techniques. In effect, the guide words are used to ensure that the questions,
which are posed to test the integrity of each part of the design, will explore every conceivable
way in which that design could deviate from the design intention. This usually produces a
number of theoretical deviations and each deviation is then considered to decide how it could
be caused and what would be the consequences.
Deviations: These are departure from the intension which are discovered by systematically
applying the guide words.

There is need of synergic thinking from the very conceptual stage to avoid contradictions in
the installation.
Fire is one of the major risks in every walk of life. We must protect our self against Fire
hazard by adhering to the instructions/laws while at home or otherwise.
Spending money and worrying for aesthetics could be important and understood but not at the
cost of Fire safetyPrevention and Protection.

The fundamental principle Protector must be protected first should not be

ignored.
The cost of basic fire protection system is just less than 2 3 % of the total

infrastructure cost and is worth spending.

Spending on aesthetics is important but not at the cost of Fire safety Prevention
and Protection.

Intention: The intention defines how the part is expected to operate. This can take a number
of forms and can be either descriptive or diagrammatic. In many cases it will be a flow sheet
or line diagram.

Causes: These are the reasons why deviations might occur. Once a deviation has been shown
to have a conceivable or realistic cause, it can be treated as meaningful.
Consequences: These are the results of the deviations.
Hazards: These are consequences which can cause damage, injury or loss.
Guide Words: These are simple words which are used to qualify the intention in order to
guide and stimulate the creative thinking process and so discover deviations. A list of guide
words is given in table below:
Guide
Words
Meanings Comments
NO or NOT
The complete negation of
these intentions
No part of the intentions is achieved by
nothing else happens
MORE
Quantitative increases or
decreases
These refer to quantities + properties such as
flow rates and temperatures as well as
activities like HEAT and REACT
LESS
AS WELL
AS
A qualitative increase
All the design and operating intentions are
achieved together with some additional
activity
PART OF A qualitative decrease
Only some of the intensions are achieved;
some are not
REVERSE
The logical opposite of
the intention
This is mostly applicable to activities, for
example reverse flow or chemical reaction. It
can also be applied to substances, e.g.
POISON instead of ANTIDOTE or D
instead of L optical isomers
OTHER
THAN
Complete substitution
No part of the original intention is achieved.
Something quite different happens.

2. Team Composition:
Hazard and Operability Studies are normally carried out by multi-disciplinary teams. The
examination requires the team to have a detailed knowledge of the way the plant is intended
to work. This requires both concerned with the design of the plant and those concerned with
its operation.
3. The Procedure for a study:
The principles described in the previous section are put into practice in a procedure which
consists of the following steps:
1. Define objectives and scope
2. Select the team
3. Prepare for the study
4. Carry out the examination
5. Record the results
6. Follow up actions