I will shortly be involved in a Hazcon Study and have no previous experience of these. Does anybody have experience, templates etc that they would care to share with me?

Get stuck in and join the group but do not let yourself become the/a 'lead' until U have the competence to move up a step I, and many others, started many years ago in the nuclear, petro-chem & offshore games without any formal training at the time as firstly an attendee then moved up and up undertaking safety cases using various assessment, logic etc techniques - remember the first nuclear bombs were built without many, if any, official assessment techniques in place just clever 'bods' using logic and common sense [we hope] and a long match to ignite it with! Best of luck

You were right in your definition, it is associated with 'hazards in construction'. I work in the nuclear decommissioning industry, and we use this HAZCON tool to identify practical construction hazards/risk associated with a particular task and possible control measures. Parties involved in this process are usually: CDM Coordinator, Principal Contractor, Design, Project Management Team, Safety Case reps, Safety Advisors, and Contractor personnel. The findings are recorded and added to the pre-construction information issued to the relevant contracting companies involved in the task.Our model does operate similar to a HAZOP, in that we use action words, within each stage of the task for prompts. However, it is not meant to replace a HAZOP which you will recognise as a tool used to assess the influence of potential work/modifications on a particular manufacturing or operational process.

Hi Routh80024 There are three main stages of assessment in the construction design process when engaging in engineering construction or for that matter any EPC project (for example an energy from waste power station) that align directly with guidance in CDM these are HAZCON = an assessment of the risk factors involved in the construction of the power station and at the design stage gives the construction team a chance to engage with the designers and design out issues that may become an issue whilst building the power station. Construction team do not have to be involved but its always a prudent approach. A good example of a HAZCON issue is modularisation of large parts or as I have seen on some construction sites putting up a building frame with steps as access to negate the need for ladders. This stage should incorporate the design risk assessment and any constructability reviews that may be needed. HAZOP = an assessment of the risk factors involved in the operation of the plant when it is built - Again this is an engineering design function but common sense would entail interaction with engineering maintenance and assessment of already existing plant. This helps the designers design out potentially hazardous issues that may be present within the maintenance of the plant in the future. To take the power station example access levels within the plume stack that are in the form of stairs instead of looped ladder access which reduces the risk of fall from height. HAZDEC = an assessment of the risk factors involved in the demolition and dismantling of the power station once it has been utilised to the extent of its useful ness. Again this could be a bolt on to the HAZCON or a totally separate undertaking but it makes sense that the controls such as modularisation utilised to reduce risk factors on the construction phase of the project would be used again to mitigate risk within the demolition. This then covers the full life cycle of the project which is what CDM directs us to do - also if undertaken right the ethos of the hazard assessment (which is what they all are) should ensure that all pertinent stakeholders are involved in the design review process. At least that's the idea - sometimes practicalities get in the way. Hope this helps Martin