A Construction Hazard Identification (HAZID) study for an oil and gas project follows a structured format to systematically identify potential hazards, assess their risks, and propose mitigation measures before construction begins.
Here is a standard format for a Construction HAZID.
1. Introduction and Objectives
This initial section sets the stage for the HAZID review.
Project Overview: A brief description of the oil and gas project, including its location, scope, and key construction phases (e.g., site preparation, civil works, structural erection, mechanical installation, electrical and instrumentation).
HAZID Scope: Clearly defines the physical boundaries, project timeline, and specific construction activities covered by the HAZID study. It also lists what is excluded.
Objectives: The primary goals of the study.
To systematically identify hazards associated with construction activities.
To analyze the causes and potential consequences of these hazards.
To evaluate existing safeguards and controls.
To propose additional recommendations to reduce risks to an acceptable level (As Low As Reasonably Practicable – ALARP).
To assign responsibility for implementing the recommendations.
2. Methodology
This section details the “how” of the HAZID process.
HAZID Team: Lists the participants, including their roles and affiliations (e.g., Facilitator, Scribe, Project Manager, Construction Lead, Safety Engineer, discipline engineers like Civil, Mechanical, Electrical).
Technique: Explains the method used, which is typically a structured brainstorming session guided by a set of “guidewords” applied to different project areas or activities.
Guidewords: A list of prompts used to stimulate discussion. Common construction guidewords include:
Excavation / Trenching
Lifting / Rigging
Work at Height
Hot Work (Welding, Grinding)
Confined Space Entry
Hazardous Materials (Handling/Storage)
Pressure Testing (Hydrostatic/Pneumatic)
Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS)
Vehicle / Mobile Equipment Movement
Dropped Objects
Risk Assessment Matrix: The tool used to rank risks. It’s typically a 5×5 matrix that combines Severity (from catastrophic to negligible) with Likelihood (from frequent to rare) to produce a risk level (e.g., Low, Medium, High, Critical).
Example Risk Matrix
3. HAZID Worksheet (Hazard Register)
This is the core output of the HAZID session, typically documented in a spreadsheet. It records the discussion for each identified hazard.
Column Explanations:
ID: A unique number for tracking.
Hazard: What could cause harm (e.g., dropped object, toxic gas release).
Consequences: The outcome if the hazard is realized (e.g., injury, asset damage).
Causes: The triggers that could lead to the hazard.
Existing Safeguards: Controls already planned or in place (e.g., procedures, PPE, design features).
Risk Ranking: The assessment of Severity (S), Likelihood (L), and resulting Risk (R) with existing safeguards in place.
Recommendations: Specific, actionable steps to further reduce the risk.
Action Party: The person or department responsible for implementing the recommendation.
4. Reporting and Close-Out
The final stage involves documenting and acting on the findings.
Executive Summary: A high-level overview of the key findings, critical risks identified, and a summary of high-priority recommendations.
List of Recommendations: A consolidated list of all recommendations generated during the HAZID, often prioritized by risk level.
Action Tracking Register: The HAZID worksheet itself becomes a live document used to track the implementation and close-out of each recommendation. This is crucial for ensuring the value of the study is realized.
Appendices: May include drawings reviewed, team attendance sheets, and the full risk matrix definitions.