BakerRisk and Stepan Company team up to provide tips for remote PHAs.
Many Process Hazards Analyses (PHAs) have been delayed as a result of travel restrictions, which could impact project schedules and revalidation cycles. However, delays are not necessary when working with BakerRisk; we are effectively facilitating PHAs remotely and in doing so we have learned that there are some hidden strategies that help offset some of the inconveniences.
To highlight effective tips for remote PHAs, BakerRisk’s Mike Moosemiller teamed up with our client Neal Muller, a Corporate Process Safety Engineer at Stepan Company, to emphasize a few key points when conducting a remote PHA:
- Before the PHA begins, have a short practice session to make sure that everyone on the team can access the remote communication platform and understands the various controls (e.g., hand raising, muting) associated with that platform.
- Consider using slightly smaller nodes than usual, ideally limiting each node to equipment that is on one or two P&IDs only. It is relatively simple to leaf through multiple drawings when they are hard copies in front of you but is much more difficult to do the same online.
- Using a scribe is even more essential in a remote study to handle frequent swapping of screen views between log sheets, drawings, and other pertinent documents.
- PHAs of well-established drawings (e.g., existing facility) can be handled with each person having their own set of drawings, physical or electronic; however, new project PHAs typically involve making many P&ID edits in real time, with the edited P&ID becoming the basis for the PHA. It is much easier for the remote team to follow the exact location of P&ID edits if an online P&ID reader/editor is used.
- The rule of fatigue applies to both in-person and remote PHAs! Make sure that the team is allowed appropriate breaks during the remote PHA to prevent burn-out.
Overall, we have found that the quality of the remote PHA is consistent with face to face sessions. While remote PHAs may take 10-20% longer to complete, there is no reason to delay moving forward on your time sensitive projects.
Contact us with questions or for your remote PHA work today!