Role of HAZOP in assessing risk of accidents in chemical process industries: capability and lacunae

Accidents in chemical process industries can not only cause losses of life and property but can alsoresult in irreparable and incalculable damage to the environment exceeding several billions of rupees. This is amply reflected in the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 and numerous accidents that have occurred across the world before or since. Such accidents also cause major losses of employment and shake the faith of people in industrial development. Hazard and operability (HAZOP) study is one of the seminal techniques for assessing risk of such accidents and prevent their occurrence. The present paper assesses the role of HAZOP and its capabilities. It then identifies the shortcomings that need to be addressed for achieving the HAZOP‘s true potential, and summarizes the attempts being made across the world to meet this challenge.