Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) for Process Safety Management

Start Date End Date Venue Fees (US $)
09 Nov 2025 Istanbul, Turkey $ 4,500 Register

Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) for Process Safety Management

Introduction

LOPA is a semi-quantitative risk analysis technique. It lies between a HAZOP and a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) in terms of its rigorousness. This technique evaluates risks by orders of magnitude of the selected accident scenarios and builds on the information developed in qualitative hazard evaluation (e.g. PHA). The layer of protection analysis (LOPA) is a semi-quantitative tool for analyzing and assessing risk on a process plant. It uses an order of magnitude technique to evaluate the adequacy of existing or proposed layers of protection against known hazards.

LOPA typically builds on the information developed during a qualitative hazard evaluation, such as a process hazard analysis (PHA) or Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP), and can be used to meet the risk assessment requirements of IEC 61508 and 61511 standards. This course describes each step in performing LOPA and uses examples, exercises, and workshops to provide experience in its application.

Objectives

    Learn how to perform a LOPA study to evaluate the effectiveness of process safeguards. Understand how to use LOPA, Risk Graph, and Risk Matrix methods to select SILs for SIFs. LOPA is often used as an extension of process hazard analysis (PHA). PHA teams use engineering judgment to decide if additional safeguards are needed to protect against accident scenarios they identify. This subjective approach can lead to disagreements and possibly inappropriate measures to reduce risk. A more rational and objective approach is needed, at least when considering risk remediation measures for high-risk scenarios or those that are expensive to implement. LOPA was developed for this purpose.

Training Methodology

This is an interactive course. There will be open question and answer sessions, regular group exercises and activities, videos, case studies, and presentations on best practice. Participants will have the opportunity to share with the facilitator and other participants on what works well and not so well for them, as well as work on issues from their own organizations. The online course is conducted online using MS-Teams/ClickMeeting.

Who Should Attend?

Process safety personnel, PHA analysts, control systems engineers, project engineers, and other personnel who need to apply or understand LOPA, Risk Graphs, or Risk Matrices.

Course Outline

  • Overview of LOPA/What is Layers of Protection Analysis?

  • LOPA Methodology

  • Benefits of using LOPA/When you should use LOPA?

  • Process Safety Concepts

  • Documentation and Example Application

  • Selecting Scenarios, Defining Consequences, Identifying

  • Initiating Events and Enablers

  • Identifying Existing Independent Protection Layers

  • (IPLs)

  • Estimating Scenario Risk

  • Making Risk Decisions

  • Implementation Issues for LOPA

  • Other Uses of LOPA

  • How to decide if a process needs a Safety Instrumented

  • System (SIS) and what SIL levels it needs

Accreditation

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