- Free Version: Available for teams of up to 10
- Pricing: Premium plan $24/seat/month (with free 30-day trial period)
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use SafetyCulture?
SafetyCulture is a leading Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) software that enables businesses from various industries to identify and analyze hazards efficiently. With easy-to-customize checklists and forms, you can use this platform to spot, assess, and manage risks that could negatively impact your operations. Standardize your processes and solve logistics problems by doing away with paper inspection records with a mobile-friendly app.
Features:
- Schedule hazard and risk inspections from the platform and automatically receive alerts with in-app notifications.
- Raise your communication game with Heads Up to ensure all workers are aware of important announcements in real-time.
- Trigger additional questions with the logic feature and attach media-based evidence (photos/videos) for a comprehensive HAZOP report.
- Streamline your daily operations and enhance team experience with a simplified system of integrated workflows.
- Monitor the status of identified physical hazards and risks such as certain equipment, chemicals, and tools with a comprehensive asset management system.
Why Use HAZOP Manager?
HAZOP Manager is a digital tool that businesses can use to regularly conduct their HAZOP analysis and other safety-related reviews such as Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), Hazard Identification Reviews (HAZID), or Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA). With the help of this program, you can identify potential dangers and operational hazards due to technical failures and human errors.
Features:
- Causes Database that lists typical deviation causes
- Comprehensive risk analysis with severity matrix
- Failure Rates Database that helps predict equipment malfunction
- Free Version: Not available
- Pricing: Contact vendor for pricing
- Platforms supported: Available as a web-based software
Why Use PHAWorks?
PHAWorks is PrimaTech’s flagship software that enables users to conduct PHA and Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) in one centralized worksheet. This tool’s easily configurable design allows you to initiate your own workflow sans the cumbersome setup that comes with utilizing digital tools. With PHAWorks, you can accelerate your hazard analysis while ensuring its accuracy.
Features:
- Integration with other PHA software programs
- Reporting functionality
- Risk management capabilities
- Free Version: No
- Pricing: Contact vendor for pricing
- Platforms supported: Available as a web-based software
Why Use Workhub?
Workhub is a cloud-based safety and compliance software that equips businesses with the capability to manage safety procedures, policies, and inspections easily. Using customizable tools, Workhub allows you to perform regular HAZOP analysis effectively and ensure continuous business operations.
Features:
- Document management with worker view and admin view
- Hazardous materials identification and management
- Automatic logs of deficiencies found during inspections
- Free Version: Not available
- Pricing: Starts at $3/user/month (minimum 3 users)
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use Camms?
Camms is a digital tool that offers comprehensive risk management and HAZOP analysis solutions. Identify hazards, assess risks, and document them to avoid recurring issues in operations. This software also provides pre-made and easy-to-use templates that you can access from both mobile and web platforms.
Features:
- Track risks with customizable risk registers and maps
- Incident reporting and management tools
- Hazard and near-miss record management
- Free Version: No
- Pricing: Contact vendor for pricing
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use SpheraCloud?
SpheraCloud is an innovative risk management platform with robust HAZOP analysis capabilities. This platform provides essential information but in silos—to help users prioritize which problems or issues should be addressed first. Identify and assess risks with SpheraCloud to reduce potential causes of operational disruptions.
Features:
- Control of work tools
- Safety training management capabilities
- HAZOP and LOPA templates linking
- Free Version: No
- Pricing: Contact vendor for pricing
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
What is a HAZOP Software?
A HAZOP software is a digital tool for team-based risk analysis and hazard identification. It is used in chemical processing and nuclear power plants by HAZOP team leaders, process designers, equipment operators, and other specialists to determine deviations and manage their risk.
Common Challenges and How to Solve Them
While conducting a HAZOP has many benefits, including the identification of ambiguous and intangible hazards and comprehensive hazard prediction, it also has a number of issues that can be difficult to overcome. Though some challenges are beyond the control of the HAZOP team, there are a few that can be remedied through the use of HAZOP software such as the following:
Neglecting Changes
Though it can be easy to dismiss the differences between repetitive designs, merely conducting a one-time HAZOP for all of them can lead to HAZOP teams not taking into account the changes that have taken place since the first HAZOP was conducted. It’s important to remember that all designs, even repetitive ones, require regular in-depth evaluations or new HAZOPs. This principle also applies to conducting HAZOPs for parallel pieces of equipment.
For example, when similar equipment is installed in separate plants, the process conditions of each plant can lead to differences in the operation of the same piece of equipment.
By displaying pre-set questions, a HAZOP software solution ensures that HAZOP teams are reminded to analyze each design and inspect even similar equipment for differences or changes they may have missed. HAZOP teams can also edit or add to a previous HAZOP template so that it reflects the differences or changes they’ve identified.
Insufficient Time
Though HAZOPs are vital in ensuring the safety and productivity of workers, they also take up a considerable amount of time and resources and are thus often rushed or conducted improperly. However, while devoting enough time and resources to HAZOP is recommended, there is a way to ensure that the entire process is as smooth and as efficient as possible. Using HAZOP software instead of paper can certainly lead to more tasks being accomplished within the same timeframe due to the automation of workflows.
Following Up on HAZOP Actions
One of the key benefits of conducting a HAZOP is the thorough identification of potential hazards, meaning that the risk of hazards not even in existence are examined and planned for. Yet, merely enumerating what should be done to mitigate that risk and not actually taking action negates any advantage a HAZOP hazard prediction can bring. Using the collaborative actions feature of HAZOP software, external HAZOP leaders can coordinate with members of the organization in arranging the close out of recommended actions.
Additionally, if someone forgets to set a due date for an action, the HAZOP software should ideally automatically give a due date for the following week, ensuring that it isn’t missed.
Key Features of a HAZOP Software
Aside from HAZOP software, a variety of digital tools can function as a HAZOP solution. As long as they can deliver the capabilities of a comprehensive hazard and operational analysis, they should work. The most important thing is that these software programs should have the following features:
- Hazard and risk identification
- Risk analysis and assessment
- Environmental monitoring tools and sensors
- Cloud-based technology and analytics
- Inspections and reports management
- Collaboration and training capabilities
- Seamless integration
Choosing the Right HAZOP Software
Different industries and businesses have different safety needs that need to be addressed, which is why they may need specific software. Here is a rundown of the top HAZOP software of the year to choose from:
| HAZOP Software | Free Version | Paid Plan | Mobile App |
| SafetyCulture | Yes | $24/seat/month* | Yes |
| HAZOP Manager | No | Contact vendor for pricing | No |
| PHAWorks | No | Contact vendor for pricing | No |
| Workhub | Yes | $3/user/month** | Yes |
| Camms | No | Contact vendor for pricing | Yes |
| SpheraCloud | No | Contact vendor for pricing | Yes |
* billed annually
** minimum 3 users
Jaydee Reyes