Developing Process Engineers into Effective HAZOP/LOPA Facilitators

There are many factors driving the increased application of HAZOP/LOPA, especially for facilities under design (reference "Assimilating Design Formulation and Design Review into a HAZOP," GCPS 2012), such as:
- Evolving regulatory requirements
- Management's prioritization of safety
- Management's recognition that HAZOP/LOPA can move the design project forward and drive resolution of key design issues

With this increased application, there is a growing need for effective HAZOP/LOPA facilitators and very organized approaches to implementation of HAZOP/LOPA, as well as organizing for effective follow-through as the design matures; however, having the individuals with the correct skills, and retaining them can have many associated challenges:
- Recognizing talent
- Training
- Supporting HAZOP/LOPA facilitation being embraced as a desirable career path
- Providing a work-balance that encourages retention

Many oil & gas companies have worked hard to develop an in-house team, only to find that individual skills may have been poorly matched with the need, or individuals are anxious to be re-assigned to other activities.  Those companies that have moved towards the use of consultants for facilitation of HAZOP/LOPA may have encountered related problems.  Whether the HAZOP/LOPA Facilitator Team is from a consultancy or from the Owner/Operator, similar challenges exist of finding the individuals with the correct skills, and finding ways to keep them focused on your project/facility needs.

The objective of this paper is to describe the challenge for Management and to provide key tips for things to look for in an employee or consultant:
- Interpersonal skills
- Critical thinking
- "Thinking on your feet"
- Technical prowess
- Problem-solving
- Attention-to-detail
- Application of best HAZOP/LOPA practices

In addition, for the Owner/Operator developing a team of in-house support for HAZOP/LOPA Facilitation, this paper will help Management understand what individuals with these skill sets are looking for and provide key tips for:
- Retention
- Training
- Professional development