Layer of protection analysis (LOPA) is a semi-quantitative, order of magnitude, tool for analysing and assessing risk on a process plant used to evaluate the adequacy of existing or proposed controls (layers of protection) against known hazards to achieve tolerable risk criteria. The course covers the different LOPA methodology variations, single cause, multiple cause, simple and complex applications. The most common use of the LOPA technique is for Safety Integrity Levels (SILs) be determined for Safety Instrumented Functions (SIFs) and this is covered in detail, but non-SIF applications are also coved.
The course will give you an understanding of the methodology, application, and limitations of LOPA. It will help you understand how to select and assess hazardous scenarios by applying the LOPA methodology, and how to interpret and apply the results including specifying the SIL of a SIF. The course references the CCPS books on LOPA and the latest international standard IEC 61511. At the end of this course the trainee will be able to be an active participant and contributor to LOPA and SIL determination studies.
The course consists of a series of modules that deal with the different technical aspects of LOPA. Presentations are interactive with video illustrations and case studies. Group exercises are used to enable attendees to put into practice what they have learnt during the lecture presentations. All the essential LOPA steps are practised in exercises, the main exercise takes
a HAZOP worksheet and builds the LOPA from it.
The course is intended to be an open course using generic examples and simple spreadsheets / calculations not tied to any
proprietary software. The case studies but can be adapted with site specific case studies if available.
The course is designed for participants who need to attend and actively contribute to LOPA/SIL studies. The course does not provide LOPA facilitator training but does cover the technical aspects needed that the facilitator must do as part of the LOPA.
For those trainees who are already qualified as PHA/HAZOP leaders, this course will allow them to apply their existing knowledge of the various PHA techniques and their existing leadership/facilitation skills to successfully facilitate LOPA studies.
Typical attendees would be:
- Technical safety engineers
- Process design engineers
- Loss prevention engineers
- Project engineers
- Instrument and control engineers
- Process safety managers
- Process safety advisers and specialist
- Technical safety managers
- Technical safety advisers and specialists.
- Technical safety authorities
“Alan is an extremely diligent, conscientious, and experienced engineer. His knowledge of processes in Refining is second to none and dedication to safety unsurpassed. Alan has been extremely helpful on advising us over SIL requirements and standards that apply around the world and advised how we should and can comply with these. He has assisted with evaluating various instrument/SIF installations and his operating background and HAZOP experience has helped us to understand the nature of the process an the type of deposit that is causing the blockage as well as the nature of the hazard and its seriousness.”
Hans Sauer
Managing Director at Clearguard, Australia
“Alan is a rare combination of chemical engineer, process safety engineer and experienced refinery engineer. I have worked
with Alan on several occasions, he is very knowledgeable, takes a pragmatic view on his work and is very easy to get on
with. He assisted us with a full safety assessment of a new oil tank farm taking into account recommendations from the
Buncefield incident. His proactive approach led him to research the subject thoroughly before embarking on the study, which
was very impressive.”
Roger Rayner
Managing Director at Flexible Process
