HAZARD & Operability (HAZOP) Study for Asian Paints Limited, APL-Vizag, Galaxy

Asian Paints Limited has an existing installation at Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh for the purpose of producing two main types of paint, namely industrial and decorative paints. While industrial paints are used for protection against corrosion and rust on steel structures, vehicles, white goods and appliances, decorative paints are used for protecting valuable assets like buildings.

Asian Paints Limited being keen on increasing the safety culture of the plant, has entrusted iFluids Engineering to perform the Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) study of the plant, located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

A HAZOP study systematically reviews potential hazards and operability problems which could potentially lead to asset damage, business interruption, environmental damage, and/or personnel injury. The study helps identify problems or needs that the operator should consider and solve. It also helps classify the existing safeguards provided as prevention or mitigation. Recommendations and/or operating procedures are provided as prevention or mitigation measures against potential hazards and operability problems identified during HAZOP Study Workshop.

The HAZOP study was initiated with a Kick off meeting by a team of experts from iFluids Engineering along with the Asian Paints Limited multi-disciplinary team. The HAZOP study methodology and how the workshop would be performed was explained and the inputs required for the study were proposed. During the HAZOP Workshop, the multi-disciplinary team reviewed the relevant documents and discussed potential hazard and operability scenarios through a brainstorming session. The outcomes of the session were systematically recorded.

The recorded discussion were then reviewed by the experts of iFluids engineering and the report was produced to Asian Paints Limited. The methodology and results proposed by the iFluids team were accepted by Asian Paints for the identification and minimization of risk, which paved way for the successful completion of the project.