Process Safety Engineering Services

ALARP Study

In the UK, designers and operators of chemical plants have a legal duty to make sure they have reduced risk to ALARP, i.e. "as low as is reasonably practicable". =Method can help with this by working alongside you to carry out and document a formal ALARP assessment.

This assessment (and subsequently ALARP demonstration) aims to answer the following questions, with the level of detail required in the assessment proportionate to the risk:

1. Are all legal requirements currently being met?
2. Is relevant good practice (RGP) being followed?
3. Is there anything else that could possibly be done to reduce the risk further?
4. If so, is it "reasonably practicable" take these further measures or not?

The completed assessment can then be filed, along with evidence of action completion, as a demonstration that the risk has indeed been reduced to "as low as reasonably practicable", i.e. ALARP has been achieved.

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DSEAR Assessment

Our DSEAR assessment services support organisations in complying with the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR).

We conduct structured assessments to identify dangerous substances, evaluate the risk of fire and explosion, and determine the adequacy of existing control and mitigation measures. Our work includes hazardous area classification (HAC), ignition source analysis, and review of equipment suitability in accordance with relevant standards and guidance, including BS EN 60079 and EI15.

Each DSEAR assessment includes:

• Clear identification of fire and explosion hazards.
• Evaluation of technical and organisational control measures.
• Clearly documented hazardous area classification (HAC) and hazardous area zoning.
• Practical, proportionate recommendations.
• Audit-ready documentation.

Our assessments are technically rigorous but also aim to provide pragmatic solutions. We ensure that appropriate risk reduction measures are put in place, and that the whole assessment is clearly documented to ensure compliance.

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Hazard Study / HazOp

HazOp is a systematic technique for reviewing a process design to understand the hazards present and identify appropriate control measures.

We deliver:

• Professionally facilitated hazard studies, in full compliance with IEC 61511. This includes all stages of hazard study, including hazard studies 0 and 1, HAZID and HazOp.
• Clear identification of credible failure scenarios and relevant safeguards.
• Clear identification of the scenarios that require further, more detailed analysis (e.g. using LOPA).
• Structured documentation suitable for regulatory review.
• Practical actions and recommendations linked to risk reduction.

Our approach ensures that studies are technically disciplined, efficiently executed and integrated into the wider project lifecycle. We specialise in delivering the right study, in the right way, and at the right time.

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LOPA

Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA) is a semi-quantitative risk assessment methodology used to further evaluate any high-consequence scenarios that were identified during HazOp.

LOPA is most frequently used for “SIL determination” – that is, deciding what SIL (if any) instrumented protective functions need to be designed to. LOPA may also be used to support risk-based decision making for major accident scenarios.

Our LOPA procedures are well-structured, transparent, and numerically robust, ensuring clear decision-making and defensible SIL targets.

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Do It Right, Do It Once.

Ensuring that risk reduction measures are proportionate, defensible, and capable of withstanding regulatory scrutiny

David Sparkes Technical Director Method Functional Safety