Identifying
and Controlling Hazards
Course 101
Safety Certified Supervisor Series
MODULE FOUR: ANALYZING THE WORKPLACE
Process Hazard Analysis
Who Should Do the Process Hazard Analysis?
OSHA believes that a team approach is the best approach for performing a process hazard analysis, because no one person will possess all of the necessary knowledge and experience. Additionally, when more than one person is performing the analysis, different disciplines, opinions, and perspectives will be represented, and additional knowledge and expertise will be contributed to the analysis. At least one member of the team should be an employee who has experience with and knowledge of the process being evaluated. (The Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals standard deals with the makeup of the process hazard analysis team at 29 CFR 1910.119(e).)
Remember, even when a process initially appears to be so simple that hazard analysis during the design phase seems unnecessary, it needs to be done anyway. If the process is simple, and there are no known potential hazards, then the process hazard analysis likewise will be simple and will require very little time and expense. On the other hand, if things are not as simple as they seem, the analysis may reveal potential problems that might have been overlooked otherwise. Correction at this early stage will save time, money, and possible injuries and grief.
Process hazard analysis will include hazards associated with:
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