A Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) study identifies hazards and operability problems. The concept involves investigating how the plant might deviate from the design intent and create risk for personnel and equipment and operability problems. HAZOPs seek to minimize the effect of an atypical situation in the operation/process by ensuring that control and other safety systems such as functional safety (e.g. emergency safe shutdown) are in place and work with a high level of reliability to achieve a safe outcome from a situation that could have resulted in a major accident.
