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Mersey  
#1 Posted : 17 March 2021 14:39:47(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Mersey

I find myself in a rather peculiar situation were I am being asked to sign off as an approver on behalf of the company I work for, on a HAZOP for a design I know little about.

The company I work for have got some consultants to design a process for a new product, I have seen a few unfished P&ID’s and attended a few of the HAZOP sessions that were being led by the 3rd.party

I couldn’t really add much to the HAZOP as I am not very familiar with the process – so in short I don’t feel comfortable signing it as a representative of the company

For me the whole process from idea to tender and URS I’ve not seen. Just because I have an EHS title there seems to be an expectations for me to sign the HAZOP off that was led by a third party.

I would suggest the plant manager signs off against this if he/she is confident it is ok. I love to know peoples thoughts on it.

I'm not being put under pressure to sign it but I will refuse to do so as I don't understand the process or ramifications shoud something in the future go wrong and the HAZOP is reporoduced in court later down the line.

 

peter gotch  
#2 Posted : 17 March 2021 14:56:41(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

Mersey - while there is nothing in black and white which would indicate who should be doing this, it seems to me that if you do not understand the process (not the HAZOP methodology), and are uncomfortable signing this off then you are not the right person to be doing so.

Sounds a bit like the old "It's Safety, so sign off should be by the Safety bod".

Let's suppose that you are mixing 100 kg of chemical X with 50 kg of chemical Y, you might understand the intended outcome, but if we are dealing with complex organic chemistry there could be a multitude of potential byproducts. If you don't understand the potentials then you are unlikely to be suitable for signing off to say that the HAZOP has adequately considered what could happen.

Difficult enough if you stick to inorganic reactions where one element such as iron may have multiple valencies!

thanks 1 user thanked peter gotch for this useful post.
Mersey on 17/03/2021(UTC)
Holliday42333  
#3 Posted : 17 March 2021 15:04:59(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Holliday42333

I have attended many HAZOP's over the years in an Occ Safety capacity.

They have always been run by and for Process Engineers.  I have attended as a bit part and contributed very little to only the 'operability' part of the study.

The owner of the 'process' should be accepting the HAZOP findings.

If you do not have operational control over the process how can you sign for the hazard study into it?

thanks 1 user thanked Holliday42333 for this useful post.
Mersey on 17/03/2021(UTC)
Kate  
#4 Posted : 17 March 2021 15:37:39(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

I agree with everything above ...

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Mersey on 17/03/2021(UTC)
Ian Bell2  
#5 Posted : 17 March 2021 16:36:57(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

Hazop actions, in my experience are usually signed off by all 3

1. The person the action was originally placed on

2. The HAZOP leader/chairman

3. Finally the project manager

One thing to watch for is that the HAZOP actually states what has been done to satisfy the action - NOT what will be done at a future date etc

stevedm  
#6 Posted : 20 March 2021 10:52:01(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stevedm

Agree with Ian...I would normallt validate the action response but in this instance the project manager or the plant manager is the ultimate sign off authority.  It can also be validated externally is it is part of a documentation to support a safety case.

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Mersey on 25/03/2021(UTC)
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