The descriptions are for modules currently being taught. They should be viewed as an example of the modules we provide. All modules are subject to change for later academic years.

Hazard & Risk Assessment (HRA) 2009/0

Workload - Private Study - Assessment - Description - Learning Outcomes - Content - Teaching Materials - Recommended Books

Module Code 0640207
Lecturers David Pumfrey, Mark Nicholson, Tim Kelly
Taken By SCSE, SSE
Number of Credits 10
Part A
Teaching Aut/6
Closed Assessments [100%] TBA
[100%] TBA

Module Prerequisites

Prerequisite knowledge

Students will be expected to have attended the FSE module, or to have equivalent knowledge of safety engineering fundamentals.

Prerequisite modules

Workload

  • Lectures: 35 x 1hr
  • Private Study: 30hrs
  • Assessment: 35hrs

The teaching for this module combines traditional lectures with a number of exercises and case studies which will be tackled in small groups.

Private Study

Students are expected to read around the subject. Background information relating to examples which will be studied on the module may be posted on the course web page; students will be expected to have read this material. Many of the exercises and case studies contain more material than can be completed in the group sessions, and students are expected to continue working on these in private study time.

Assessment

Closed Assessments

  • , hours
  • , hours

Formative Feedback

Students will be provided with individual written feedback on their answers to the open assessment vis the online feedback system.

Description

This module teaches systematic approaches to hazard identification and risk assessment, including principles of risk reduction and ALARP. It effectively covers the first half of the safety process in the system development lifecycle. It encompasses predictive, target-setting techniques and should ideally be taken as a pair with System Safety Assessment, which addresses concepts and techniques appropriate to the later stages of a development project.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, the student will have:

  • An understanding of the principles of hazard identification and assessment;
  • An initial ability to apply techniques such as Functional Failure Analysis and HAZOP;
  • An understanding of approaches to risk reduction;
  • An appreciation of common cause / common mode failure mechanisms, and their importance.

Content

  • Preliminary Hazard Identification;
  • Measures of accident severity and probability;
  • Event Trees;
  • Setting Severity, Probability and Risk Targets;
  • The ALARP principle;
  • Risk reduction;
  • Functional Failure Analysis;
  • HAZOP;
  • Common-cause and common-mode failures;
  • Zonal Hazard / Safety Analysis.

Teaching Materials

Copies of all lecture slides, case studies and exercises will be provided.

Recommended Books

Rating Author Title Publisher Year
** Kletz, T. HAZOP and HAZAN: Identifying and Assessing Process Industry Hazards Institution of Chemical Engineers 1992
+++ Ericson, C.A. Hazard Analysis Techniques for System Safety Wiley 2005
++ Stephans, R.A. and Talso W.W. System Safety Analysis Handbook (2nd Ed) System Safety Society 1997
++ Taylor, J.R. Risk Analysis for Process Plant, Pipelines and Transport E & FN Spon 1994
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Last updated: 26th May 2011