HAZID

HAZID, short for Hazard Identification, is a structured safety review technique used to identify potential hazards associated with a process, facility, or operation. It is a qualitative method commonly conducted in the early design stages or during major modifications to support risk assessment and design decisions.

A HAZID is typically performed by a multi-disciplinary team that includes process engineers, operations personnel, safety professionals, maintenance staff, and management, guided by a trained facilitator. The team uses guides, checklists, and scenario-based brainstorming to identify hazards across process steps, equipment, utilities, environment, and interfaces. Guides and prompts developed by industry bodies (such as CCPS, HSE, and API) help ensure coverage of potential toxic releases, fires and explosions, mechanical hazards, power and control failures, storage and handling of hazardous materials, and environmental impacts.

Outputs from a HAZID typically include a hazard register listing identified hazards, potential consequences, existing safeguards, and recommended actions with owners and target dates. The exercise often yields preliminary risk rankings or prioritization for further study, but it is primarily qualitative and not a full quantitative risk assessment.

Applications and relationships: HAZID is commonly used in concept and preliminary design, pre-start-up reviews, and during major modifications. It helps identify design gaps and management of change issues and often feeds into subsequent analyses such as HAZOP, LOPA, or other risk assessment activities to refine hazards and determine necessary safeguards. Limitations include dependence on participant expertise and judgment, potential for missed scenarios, and the need for good documentation and follow-up to close actions.