Risk and SafetyHAZOP

Hazard and Operability Study

A Hazard and Operability Study is a structured team review used to identify process hazards and operating problems by examining deviations from design intent.

What this term means in maintenance

A Hazard and Operability Study is a structured team review used to identify process hazards and operating problems by examining deviations from design intent.

How HAZOP works

A multidisciplinary team reviews process sections using guide words such as:

  • No
  • More
  • Less
  • Reverse
  • Other than
  • As well as

Practical example

The team reviews the deviation “No Flow” through a reactor feed line and identifies causes, consequences, safeguards, and actions.

Maintenance contribution

Maintenance provides information about equipment failure modes, isolation, testing, bypasses, reliability, and maintainability.

Outputs

HAZOP produces findings, recommendations, owners, priorities, and required follow-up.

Common mistake

Closing HAZOP actions administratively without implementing and verifying the actual risk-control work leaves hazards unresolved.

Keep exploring connected CMMS, reliability, and maintenance planning terms.

Glossary FAQs

What does HAZOP stand for?

HAZOP stands for Hazard and Operability Study.

How does HAZOP identify hazards?

A team applies guide words to deviations from process design intent.

How does maintenance contribute?

Through failure modes, isolation, bypass, testing, reliability, and maintainability knowledge.

Turn Maintenance Definitions Into Action

MaintBoard helps plant and facility teams move from scattered maintenance records to organized work orders, preventive maintenance schedules, spare parts control, inspections, calibration, and audit-ready history.